Are candidates making promises they can’t keep? Who represents the status quo in Portland politics? What’s the “fed-up caucus?” And why is “summer camp” over for council hopefuls?
These are just some of the issues we discuss in the latest episode of Stump Talk.
Welcome to the second episode of the Stump Talk podcast, where we dig into Portland politics with OPB’s City Hall reporter Alex Zielinski and Nathan Williams, the filmmaker behind The Experiment, a documentary following Portland’s historic 2024 election.
The Competition for Media Attention
Alex, who’s been covering City Hall for six years, shares her perspective on how to equitably cover a candidate pool of record-breaking proportions. She says the crowded field sometimes reverses the traditional journalist-candidate roles, with candidates pursuing journalists rather than the other way around. Nathan, who’s been filming campaign events since early this year, talks about what it’s like being a fly on the wall—something he somehow pulls off despite being 6'3" and carrying camera equipment—as over a hundred political hopefuls compete on the campaign circuit.
We discuss voters’ expectations and the sometimes lofty promises candidates make. Additionally, we dive into the ideological lines forming between progressive candidates working to protect recent wins and the candidate cohort Nathan calls the “fed-up caucus,” who argue the city’s current approach to street drugs and public camping is too laissez-faire.
Endorsements: Great for Getting Elected, But Can Candidates Keep the Love Once in Office?
We chat about the flood of endorsements from political interest groups and the benefits and challenges of maintaining those relationships once elected. Interested listeners can filter candidates by endorsements on Rose City Reform’s website.
While our guests preferred to speak generally and not delve into specific candidate platforms, you can read candidates’ answers to pointed questions on The Oregonian’s interactive map. I’m not going to lie: sifting through these questionnaires is a time-consuming task. But fret not, Rose City Reform has done some of the work for you. Read our breakdown of candidates’ positions on the Portland Clean Energy Fund, or which candidates would vote yes on a proposal to add hundreds of police officers.
Read More About Where Candidates Stand on Issues
If our conversation about mayoral candidates piques your interest, you may enjoy this exchange between rivals Rene Gonzalez, Carmen Rubio, and Keith Wilson at a recent debate. It captures the tension between current officeholders, who stress that ending unsheltered homelessness requires layered, multi-jurisdictional solutions, and Wilson, who argues the city can solve the problem in a year with a network of emergency shelters.
Curious about the controversy surrounding staffing decisions for the new council? Check out what candidates Jesse Cornett (D3) and Bob Weinstein (D4) had to say about it. Intrigued by Nathan’s reference to the “fed-up caucus”? District 4 candidate Eric Zimmerman’s recent proposal to ban RV camping on city streets could be viewed as such a platform.
Finally, to follow Alex Zielinski’s election coverage, visit OPB.org or listen to the OPB Politics Now podcast. To learn more about Nathan Williams’ documentary, visit People’s Town Hall or follow the film on Instagram.
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