Incumbents Lead Portland District 4 Council Races
Three incumbent council members hold early leads in preliminary results as ballots continue to be counted.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Civic Engagement
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Incumbents Olivia Clark, Eric Zimmerman and Mitch Green lead preliminary results in Portland's District 4 as additional ballots are counted. Challenger Eli Arnold has 5,601 votes and is trailing nearly 5,000 votes behind Green and Zimmerman.
Why it matters
If all District 3 and District 4 incumbents win, the deadlocked Portland City Council will keep its current composition. Portland is expected to send Zimmerman back for a four-year term based on the early count.
Challenger Eli Arnold has 5,601 votes and trails Green and Zimmerman by nearly 5,000 votes in preliminary returns. The final tally will depend on ballots still being counted after election night.
The players
Mitch Green
Green is a Portland City Council member and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America who serves as one of the core members of the council's progressive caucus.
Eric Zimmerman
Zimmerman is a Portland City Council member who is part of the moderate voting bloc on the council.
Olivia Clark
Clark is a Portland City Council member who is part of the moderate voting bloc on the council.
Eli Arnold
Arnold is the challenger in Portland's District 4 council race trailing the incumbents in preliminary results.
The details
District 4 covers all of the west side and a sliver of Southeast Portland. Incumbents Olivia Clark, Eric Zimmerman and Mitch Green are all seeking a second term, with Green a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and one of the council's core progressive caucus members.
Timeline
Nov. 3, 2026: Election night, when preliminary results posted and the incumbents led.
Political Context
The incumbents' early leads would preserve the deadlocked balance between the progressive caucus and the moderate bloc on the Portland City Council. Opposition to the incumbents' platforms has come mainly from challengers arguing for changes to the council's current direction.
Voters in Portland's District 4 and District 3 will see the same council members returning if the early results hold. Residents will have the same council representation on local decisions for the next term.
The takeaway
Early returns show the council's existing balance may hold for another term, so tracking certified results will confirm whether the deadlock persists. Voters following these races can watch final tallies as remaining ballots are counted.
Further reading
Explore more civic engagement coverage to see how local races shape council decisions.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Willamette Week.
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