Salem Mayor · Nov 3, 2026
Vanessa Nordyke
Candidate for Mayor
Vanessa Nordyke is running for mayor of Salem in the Nov 3, 2026 election, unopposed.
Last day to register to vote · Tue, Oct 13, 2026
Executive director of CASA of Marion County and a Salem city councilor since 2019. Former senior assistant attorney general at the Oregon Department of Justice.
- Endorsed by
- PCUN; City of Salem AFSCME Local 2067; SEIU 503; North Coast States Carpenters Union; UFCW 555; 350 Salem OR; Oregon League of Conservation Voters; Senator Deb Patterson; Representative Paul Evans; Marion County Democrats. Marion County Voters' Pamphlet, May 19, 2026 Primary (City of Salem statements, pp. 20-23)
- Campaign website
- www.electvanessanordyke.com
Vanessa Nordyke (mayor), Linda Nishioka (Ward 2), Dave Inbody (Ward 4) and Betsy Vega (Ward 6) are the only candidates listed for their offices on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot. City of Salem
Where Vanessa Nordyke stands: positions on the record
Immigration enforcement1 sourced position
Voted yes on Resolution 2025-33, declaring an emergency over local impacts of federal immigration enforcement (passed 6-3, Dec 2025).
Council voteSalem City Council minutes, Dec 1, 2025 · Dec 1, 2025
Homelessness4 sourced positions
Voted yes on accepting a donation to fund two Homeless Services Team police officers for six months (passed 6-3, Oct 2025).
Council voteSalem City Council minutes, Oct 27, 2025 · Oct 27, 2025
Says the city should continue funding the REACH team and expand it to the Polk County side of Salem.
“We should not only continue REACH funding, but expand it to reach people in the Polk County side of Salem.”
Own statementSalem Reporter · Aug 13, 2026
Says camp removals at Wallace Marine Park should slow if shelter or other housing is not available.
“If appropriate shelter or other housing options are not available, we need to pump the brakes and adjust the pace of the transition accordingly.”
Own statementSalem Reporter · Aug 13, 2026
Voted yes on creating a one-time social service pilot program funded with $200,000 (passed 7-2, Feb 2026).
Council voteSalem City Council minutes, Feb 9, 2026 · Feb 9, 2026
Data centers1 sourced position
Voted yes on Resolution 2026-40, establishing a moratorium on data centers (passed 7-0, Sept 2026).
Council voteSalem City Council minutes, Sept 21, 2026 · Sep 21, 2026
Government accountability1 sourced position
Pledges public budget participation, performance audits and ethical governance.
“Lead With Accountability and Transparency through public budget participation, performance audits, and ethical governance.”
Own statementMarion County Voters' Pamphlet, May 19, 2026 Primary (City of Salem statements, pp. 20-23)
Housing1 sourced position
Voted yes on a 10-year property tax exemption for a 49-unit apartment project at 590 Willow Street NE (passed 7-2, May 2026).
Council voteSalem City Council minutes, May 26, 2026 · May 26, 2026
Past candidacies1 sourced position
Ran for Salem City Council, Ward 7 in 2024 as a nonpartisan candidate (won).
Own statementMarion County · Jun 17, 2024
What Vanessa Nordyke said vs. how Vanessa Nordyke voted
Homelessness
In their words
Says camp removals at Wallace Marine Park should slow if shelter or other housing is not available.
Aug 13, 2026 ·Salem Reporter · Aug 13, 2026
On the record
Voted yes on creating a one-time social service pilot program funded with $200,000 (passed 7-2, Feb 2026).
Feb 9, 2026 ·Salem City Council minutes, Feb 9, 2026 · Feb 9, 2026
Also running for Mayor
No one else is running for this seat.
All 6 Salem candidates →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.