Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Portland City Council Election 2026

3 of 9

council seats up

3 contests

9 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

City Council At-Large · 1 seat

Atiim BoykinAtiim Boykin is a mental health clinician, community organizer and artist. He lives in Portland's West End.4sourced
Joey BrunelleJoey Brunelle is a graphic designer and web developer who chairs Portland's Police Oversight Board.4sourced
Kate SnyderKate Snyder is a former mayor of Portland who served from 2019 to 2023. She served on the Portland School Board from 2007 to 2013.5sourced

City Council District 4 · 1 seat

City Council District 5 · 1 seat

Three of the council's nine seats are on the Nov. 3 ballot: one at-large seat, District 4 and District 5. Each is a separate race decided by ranked-choice voting.

2 notes on these statements

At-large councilor April Fournier is running for Maine House District 114 and is not seeking reelection; District 5 councilor Kate Sykes is also not seeking reelection. The West End News · Oct 2, 2026

The Urbanist Coalition of Portland reported that Kevin Gardella did not respond to its candidate survey. Urbanist Coalition of Portland · Sep 19, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Pious AliPious Ali is an at-large Portland city councilor.3sourced Mark DionMark Dion is the mayor of Portland and presides over City Council meetings.3sourced Benjamin GrantBenjamin Grant is an at-large Portland city councilor.3sourced Sarah MichniewiczCouncilor, District 1; not on the 2026 ballot2sourced Wesley PelletierWesley Pelletier is the District 2 member of the Portland City Council.2sourced Regina PhillipsRegina Phillips is the District 3 member of the Portland City Council.3sourced

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesInclusionary zoning, Social housing, Reimagining Franklin Street Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

In-person absentee voting begins

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Inclusionary zoning

Where it standsA consultant's study of the city's inclusionary zoning ordinance went to the council's housing committee in June, and amendments have been proposed.

What's on the tableWhether and how to change the inclusionary zoning rules that require affordable units in larger housing projects.

The Housing and Economic Development Committee's June 2, 2026 agenda included the final Inclusionary Zoning Study Report. City of Portland · Jun 2, 2026
The same agenda listed inclusionary zoning amendments proposed by Councilor Grant. City of Portland · Jun 2, 2026
Anna Bullett said she expects a full council vote on a rewritten inclusionary zoning policy before the end of 2026. Urbanist Coalition of Portland

Social housing

Where it standsThe Social Housing Task Force delivered its final report to the council in August, and the council scheduled a workshop on it for Sept. 28.

What's on the tableWhether and how the city creates a social housing program.

Councilor Kate Sykes presented the Social Housing Task Force's final report and recommendations to the council on Aug. 24, 2026. City of Portland · Aug 24, 2026
The council scheduled a Sept. 28, 2026 workshop to present the Task Force's final report and recommendations. City of Portland · Sep 28, 2026

Reimagining Franklin Street

Where it standsThe city released a draft plan in September; a final plan is expected before the council in late fall.

What's on the tableWhether to approve the final Franklin Street redesign.

The draft plan removes the large grassy median that divides four lanes of traffic on the Franklin Street arterial. Maine Public · Sep 9, 2026
Kevin Kraft, the city's planning and urban development director, said a final plan is expected to go before the city council for approval in late fall. Maine Public · Sep 9, 2026
Public comments on the draft plan were open through Sept. 25. Maine Public · Sep 9, 2026

Nonprofit payments in lieu of taxes

Where it standsThe council rejected a proposed Payment-in-Lieu-of-Tax (PILOT) policy 2-7 on June 15, 2026.

What's on the tableWhether the council takes up a PILOT policy again.

The council postponed Order 139-25/26, the PILOT policy, from June 1 to June 15, 2026, by a 9-0 vote. City of Portland · Jun 1, 2026
On June 15, 2026 the motion to pass the PILOT policy failed 2-7. City of Portland · Jun 15, 2026

Shelter and homelessness services

Where it standsThe council held a Sept. 14 workshop on the future of family shelter services and a property strategy.

What's on the tableHow shelter services are run and funded, and where a family shelter is located.

The Sept. 14, 2026 workshop agenda said staff would seek council guidance on shelter service continuation and priorities. City of Portland · Sep 14, 2026
The workshop agenda also listed a recommended strategy for evaluating potential family shelter locations. City of Portland · Sep 14, 2026

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. Portland's inclusionary zoning requires 25% of units in larger projects to be affordable. Where do you stand?
2. Should Portland create a social housing program in which the public sector keeps ownership or equity?
3. Do you support narrowing Franklin Street under the Reimagining Franklin Street plan?
4. In June the council voted 2-7 against a proposed PILOT (payment-in-lieu-of-tax) policy. How would you have voted?
5. Who should take the lead on shelter, detox and recovery services?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

In-person absentee voting beginsThe West End News · Oct 2, 2026Oct 5, 2026
Election Day (polls open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.)The West End News · Oct 2, 2026Nov 3, 2026

The seat math

6 stay (not up this year): Pious Ali, Mark Dion, Benjamin Grant, Sarah Michniewicz, Wesley Pelletier, Regina Phillips3 on this ballot

9 council seats. The council decides by a 5-vote majority.

The council has nine members: the mayor, three at-large councilors and five district councilors. City of Portland · Sep 21, 2026
The eight councilors serve three-year terms and the mayor serves a four-year term. Wikipedia
The mayor is elected by voters. Wikipedia
City Council races are decided by ranked-choice voting under the city charter. Portland Regional Chamber
The mayor votes on council items. City of Portland · Sep 9, 2026

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →

See something wrong? Report an error

Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.