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Keith Wilson (businessman)

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Keith Wilson
Mayor-elect of Portland
Assuming office
January 1, 2025
SucceedingTed Wheeler
Personal details
Born1962 or 1963 (age 61–62)
Political partyDemocratic
EducationPortland Community College
Oregon State University (BA)
University of Portland (MBA)

Keith D. Wilson (born 1962 or 1963)[1] is an American businessman, nonprofit executive, and Democratic politician who is currently the mayor-elect of Portland, Oregon after winning the 2024 election.[2][3]

He is the president and chief executive officer of Titan Freight Systems.

Early life and education

Wilson was born and raised in Portland, Oregon.[4] He and his six siblings grew up in a low-income household in North Portland.[5] Wilson graduated from Roosevelt High School before attending Portland Community College (PCC) and Oregon State University (OSU).[6] He later received a Master of Business Administration degree at the University of Portland.[6]

Career

After attending PCC and OSU, Wilson moved to New York City to work for NBC in the sales department. He was homeless for a short time, living in LaGuardia Airport. In 1990, he returned to Portland to help his father run the family company.[6] In 1998, Wilson merged his father's two companies into one, Titan Freight Systems.[6] Wilson is also the founder of Shelter Portland, a nonprofit organization seeking to end homelessness.[7]

Politics

In 2020, Wilson ran for Portland City Council in an attempt to unseat incumbent Chloe Eudaly. He lost the primary election, and the seat was eventually won by Mingus Mapps.[8][better source needed] After his defeat, Wilson self-funded multiple trips to various cities and countries around the world in order to talk with experts on homelessness.[6]

Wilson was a delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention and was a member of the Platform Committee.[9]

Portland mayoral campaign and political positions

On June 12, 2024, Wilson announced his intention to run for mayor of Portland in the 2024 election.[10] Part of his campaign promises is to completely end unsheltered homelessness in Portland.[11][12] On election night, November 5, 2024, Wilson had an early lead. He and city commissioner Carmen Rubio advanced past the first few rounds of tabulation.[13] The next day, most news agencies called the race for Wilson and Rubio conceded.[14]

According to The Oregonian, "Wilson's pitch to tackle homelessness, crime and livability — top concerns with Portland voters — came with a full-throated insistence they can be remedied with care and compassion. He made the audacious pledge to largely end unsheltered homelessness within a year the crux of his campaign."[15] He has proposed increasing the number of walk-in emergency shelters in existing churches and other community spaces.[5][16]

Personal life

Wilson is married and has two children.[17]

Electoral history

2024 Portland mayoral race
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Keith Wilson 83,662
Final: 122,211 		35.09%
Final: 60.98%
Nonpartisan Carmen Rubio 50,706
Final: 78,203 		21.27%
Final: 39.02%
Nonpartisan Rene Gonzalez 44,087 18.49%
Nonpartisan Mingus Mapps 31,366 13.15%
Nonpartisan Liv (Viva) Østhus 13,812 5.79%
Nonpartisan Josh Leake 1,693 0.71%
Nonpartisan Durrell Kinsey Bey 1,689 0.71%
Nonpartisan Sharon Nasset 1,650 0.69%
Nonpartisan Martin Ward 1,569 0.66%
Nonpartisan Michael O'Callaghan 1,394 0.58%
Nonpartisan Michael Hayes 1,327 0.56%
Nonpartisan Alexander Landry Neely 1,278 0.54%
Nonpartisan James Macdonald 737 0.31%
Nonpartisan Dustin Witherspoon 693 0.29%
Nonpartisan Shei'Meka (BeUtee) As-Salaam 625 0.26%
Nonpartisan Saadiq Ali 563 0.24%
Nonpartisan Yao Jun He 550 0.23%
Nonpartisan Write In 481 0.20%
Nonpartisan James Atkinson IV 332 0.14%
Nonpartisan Michael Necula 229 0.10%
Total votes 119,222 100
2020 Portland City Commission Primary election, Position 4
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Chloe Eudaly (incumbent) 65,142 31.3%
Nonpartisan Mingus Mapps 59,603 28.6%
Nonpartisan Sam Adams 57,738 27.7%
Nonpartisan Keith Wilson 10,868 5.2%
Nonpartisan Seth Woolley 8,346 4.0%
Nonpartisan Kevin McKay 3,318 1.6%
Nonpartisan Robert MacKay 1,519 0.7%
Nonpartisan Aaron Fancher 1,056 0.5%
Nonpartisan Write-ins 820 0.4%
Total votes 208,410 100

See also

References

  1. ^ Sadiq, Sheraz (November 8, 2024). "Portland Mayor-elect Keith Wilson pledges huge shelter push in first year". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  2. ^ Kavanaugh, Shane Dixon (November 7, 2024). "Keith Wilson, businessman and political outsider, elected mayor of Portland". The Oregonian. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  3. ^ Anthony Macuk (November 6, 2024). "Portland mayoral race called for Keith Wilson; Carmen Rubio concedes". KGW.
  4. ^ "Meet Keith Wilson, candidate for Portland mayor". opb. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Mayoral Candidate Keith Wilson Is Indefatigable. But His Ambition Could Be His Downfall". Willamette Week. August 21, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Mayoral Candidate Keith Wilson Is Indefatigable. But His Ambition Could Be His Downfall". Willamette Week. August 21, 2024. Archived from the original on September 14, 2024. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  7. ^ "Mayoral candidate Keith Wilson says he can end unsheltered homelessness. Critics raise doubts". The Oregonian. October 12, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  8. ^ "Keith Wilson". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  9. ^ "2024 Democratic National Convention Delegation". Democratic Party of Oregon. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  10. ^ "Register of City Candidates - November 2024 General Election". www.portland.gov. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  11. ^ Wilson, Keith (June 30, 2022). "My View: Unsheltered homelessness crisis can be solved". Portland Tribune. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  12. ^ "'I'm taking action': Portland mayoral candidate Keith Wilson claims he will end unsheltered homelessness in 1 year if elected". KGW. March 21, 2024. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  13. ^ "Keith Wilson Takes Early Lead in Mayor's Race". Willamette Week. November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  14. ^ "Portland mayoral race called for Keith Wilson; Carmen Rubio concedes". kgw.com. November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  15. ^ Shane Dixon, Kavanaugh (November 7, 2024). "Keith Wilson, businessman and political outsider, elected mayor of Portland". The Oregonian. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  16. ^ "In Portland, Oregon, political outsider Keith Wilson elected mayor after homelessness-focused race". AP News. November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  17. ^ "Keith Wilson Donated Widely to Other Candidates, Many of Whom Also Gave to Him". Willamette Week. October 25, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Portland
Taking office 2025 		Elect
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