Novick Leads Early Results in Portland District 3

Steve Novick holds the top preliminary spot in the Portland City Council District 3 ranked-choice race while second and third place remain undecided.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Civic Engagement

Novick Leads Early Results in Portland District 3

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Steve Novick received nearly 30% of the first-round vote in Portland City Council District 3, clearing the 25% plus one vote threshold in the initial round. Second and third place seats remain undecided as counting continues in Multnomah County.

Why it matters

Portland elects three councilors per district using ranked-choice voting, so the final ordering depends on how ballots transfer across rounds. About 64% of Multnomah County ballots were uncounted at the initial tabulation, leaving the outcome open.

Preliminary results show Steve Novick with nearly 30% of first-round votes against a 25% plus one vote threshold to win one of three District 3 seats among 21 candidates. About 64% of Multnomah County ballots remained uncounted, so second and third place are unresolved.

The players

Steve Novick

Steve Novick is a former Portland city commissioner and longtime local political figure who led the preliminary results in District 3.

Tiffany Koyama Lane

Tiffany Koyama Lane is a Portland community leader who placed second in the preliminary District 3 count.

Angelita Morillo

Angelita Morillo is a Portland candidate who placed third in the preliminary District 3 count.

The details

Preliminary ranked-choice results were released around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Surplus votes above the threshold are redistributed to voters' next-ranked choices, and the lowest-polling candidates are eliminated in later rounds with their ballots transferred. Tiffany Koyama Lane placed second and Angelita Morillo placed third in the preliminary count.

Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Election day, with preliminary ranked-choice results released around 8 p.m.

Civic Engagement Context

Portland's three-seat district system using ranked-choice voting, approved for City Council elections, is being tested in District 3 as surplus and eliminated-candidate ballots transfer across rounds. The count shows how the transfer mechanics translate into final seat allocation under the new structure.

Voters in Portland's District 3 will not know their final councilors until remaining ballots are counted and ranked-choice rounds are complete. The outcome determines which three representatives serve the district's neighborhoods, including Woodstock, Montavilla, Mt. Scott-Arleta, and Brentwood-Darlington.

The takeaway

Ranked-choice results can shift as ballots transfer between rounds, so early leaders do not always finish with a seat. Following later count updates is the best way to track the final District 3 lineup.