A new map, a new era for Portland.

The District Commission coalesces around a final district map.

Last night, Portland’s District Commission landed on a final proposal for its city council district map.

Despite opposition from southeast residents, the map is set to incorporate parts of southeast Portland into the west district.

Here’s what you need to know about the emerging district plan.

Proposed district map with district numbers. Not an official document.

The District Commission is slated to vote on the final district plan on August 21. To be adopted, the proposal needs the support of at least nine of the thirteen district commissioners.

Here’s the breakdown of what’s on the table:

Alder takes the cake, but not everyone is celebrating.

The final district blueprint is based on a draft map labeled “Alder,” which was floated to Portlanders earlier this summer. Using the Willamette River as a natural boundary, the map groups neighborhoods east of the river into three districts: District 1 (East), District 2 (North/Northeast), and District 3 (Central/Southeast).

However, to meet the federal criterion that districts be equal in population, District 4 (West) will stretch across the river to absorb some southeast neighborhoods. That’s an arrangement that has irked some Portlanders, who feel that the proposal detaches them from neighboring communities.

Map ignores ties between neighbors, opponents say.

About one in five of the 800+ public comments received by the District Commission this summer voiced opposition to Sellwood-Eastmoreland being absorbed by the west district.

“We knew going into this process that some [residents] were going to be upset that they weren’t connected to their neighbors because we have to draw a line somewhere,” District Commissioner Paul Lumley remarked in last night’s meeting.

“Standing back and looking at the map that we’re completing here, it does a very good job of keeping neighborhood associations whole, and the groups that advocated for that should be pleased with this kind of success – or at least I hope so,” he added.

A Tale of Two Portlands: Census data reveals disparities.

So – what do we know about the residents who will call these districts home?

A look at Portland’s 2020 census data reveals marked contrasts across the proposed districts. The east and north/northeast districts contain the most racial and ethnic diversity, while the west and central/southeast districts are whiter and more affluent. The east district, which encompasses the historically underserved area east of 82nd Avenue, trails in both median income and voter turnout, while the west district tops both of those categories.

To drive voter turnout in historically marginalized areas, the District Commission voted last night to let the east and north/northeast districts elect their representatives during presidential election years. The other two districts will cast their district ballots during the midterms. Next year, however, all districts will simultaneously elect their representatives to launch the new district-based system.

For a more in-depth look at demographics, the Coalition for Communities of Color offers detailed maps.

Political affiliations: A mixed bag, but predominantly progressive.

Despite Portland’s progressive tilt, the city isn’t without political diversity.

According to Multnomah County precinct registration data, the north/northeast district boasts the highest percentage of registered Democrats, with 61%. In contrast, the east district houses the smallest percentage of Democrats at 39%, and stands out for its large share of non-affiliated voters at 41%. This is markedly higher than the 29% seen in the other districts. The east district also emerges as the home to the most registered Republicans, with 14%.

What does this spell for Portland going forward? To answer that question, it’s important to remember that Portland’s new electoral system is designed to capture political nuances.

Multi-member districts could mean multi-dimensional politics.

In 2025, Portland will pioneer a unique representation model among major U.S. cities. Each council district will have not one but three representatives at City Hall.

With three seats per district, voters will have a wider range of political candidates and platforms to consider. A novel voting method for city council elections – “single transferable vote” – will allow voters to rank candidates and lowers the threshold for winning a council seat to 25%+1 of the district vote.

Combined, these reforms could result in a council that’s simultaneously more politically diverse and more inclined to forge political alliances. Since legislation can’t pass without a majority vote on the council, officeholders may have to set ideological differences aside to deliver results for constituents.

How will it all play out? The only thing that’s certain is that it’s a new day for Portland politics. Once adopted, the new district map will be our first clue to what lies ahead.

A big thank you to John Horvick of DHM Research for helping me navigate voter registration data. Any mistakes are my own.

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In other reform news:

While Rose City Reform took some time off for vacation, a series of juicy charter-related stories unfolded:

• The Salary Commission finalized its officeholder salary structure. Read more about it here.

• City Commissioner Rene Gonzalez tried, and failed, to gain traction for an effort to repeal portions of Portand’s charter reform. Read more

• The Government Transition Advisory Committee (GTAC), a body appointed by the mayor to oversee the implementation of charter reform, drafted a public letter complaining of being used as a political tool. Rose City Reform’s request for an interview with the GTAC co-chairs was declined by the city. Read more here.