District 4 incumbents hold early leads in Portland council race

Residents in Portland’s District 4 can expect the same three councilors to represent them for the next term, based on early vote counts. Olivia Clark, Eric Zimmerman, and Mitch Green currently lead the race, maintaining their seats on the city council. The district includes the entire westside and a small portion of Southeast Portland.

The race for the three open seats drew challengers, but the incumbents held strong advantages. Eli Arnold, a Portland police officer who works in traffic enforcement, finished behind the leading group. He trailed Green and Zimmerman by nearly 5,000 votes, with a current total of 5,601. The gap suggests the challengers will not unseat the current representatives.

The political makeup of the council will remain the same because all three incumbents in District 4 appear set to win. A similar outcome is expected in District 3, where all three incumbents also hold leads. This result preserves the current balance of power on the deadlocked council. Green remains a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and a core figure in the progressive caucus. Zimmerman and Clark belong to the moderate voting bloc, which frequently opposes the progressive group on key votes.

Campaign celebrations began as the first numbers came in. Green attended a Democratic Socialists of America party at the White Owl Social Club in Southeast Portland. He expressed confidence before the official results posted. “Tonight’s a historic night,” Green said while drinking a Rainier. “People are hungry for a style of politics that’s honest and authentic.”

Zimmerman and Clark celebrated in a suite at the Hilton downtown. They embraced upon seeing the initial returns. “We’re in! We’re in!” the pair said. Campaign staff and friends distributed champagne to guests in the room. Zimmerman noted that the previous two-year term had been positive. “It feels amazing,” he said. “The two-year term was nice, and right now it looks like Portland is going to send me back for a four-year term. That’s a hell of an honor.”

Clark confirmed the stability of their working relationship after learning Green had secured the third seat. “So nothing’s changed?” she asked. The group has maintained a cooperative dynamic during their time in office. “We’ve always been the most collegial district,” Clark said. “The three of us have worked really well together, and that will continue.”

Election officials will continue counting ballots throughout the night. Final numbers may shift slightly, but the preliminary data indicates the incumbents will retain their positions. Voters in District 4 and District 3 will see no change in their council representation under these current projections.