Portland Elections Commission releases report analyzing Small Donor Elections 2024 performance

Today, the Portland Elections Commission published its official post-election report, offering a comprehensive review of the city's most recent election cycle. The report draws on user experience research and campaign finance data, analyzes issues that emerged during the 2024 election cycle, and makes recommendations to update and improve the program for the future.

Results show that, once again, the Small Donor Elections program significantly reduced the average size of campaign contributions to winning candidates, reflecting its ongoing impact on amplifying the role of everyday voters and shifting campaign funding away from large donors.

Read the Portland Elections Commission 2024 Report

"Large contributions can have a coercive influence in governance. The Small Donor Elections program helps candidates run competitive campaigns using only small contributions and matching funds," the program's Director, Susan Mottet, explains. "This program helps ensure democracy is shaped by more voices, reflects diverse perspectives and holds leaders accountable to the public."

For example, according to the report:

• In 2016, the wealthiest zip code in Portland contributed nearly 900 times more to candidates than the least affluent zip code. By 2024, that gap had narrowed significantly to a ratio of 21-to-1 (page 12).
• In 2024, the average contribution to half of the winning Council candidates was under $40, proving that candidates can mount successful campaigns with small contributions and matching funds alone (page 18).

Explore candidates' campaign finance data

"The Small Donor Elections program, along with other reforms adopted by voters in 2018 and 2022, has fundamentally reshaped our democracy," said Portland Elections Commissioner Amy Sample Ward. "We've seen a real shift-campaigns are now powered by small donors from every neighborhood, making local elections more representative of our entire community."

The Commission made 33 recommendations to help the program adapt to the evolving campaign landscape and address emerging issues, including recommendations to prevent contribution swapping and to ensure the program has adequate funding to meet program needs.

"The Small Donor Elections Program made it possible for me to run a competitive, people powered campaign without relying on billionaire donors or special interests," said Councilor Angelita Morillo. "It's redefining who can run and win in Portland, and who our government truly listens to. I'm proud to be a part of a City Council that reflects the rich diversity of the people we serve and puts everyday constituents at the center of our democracy."

Councilor Tiffany Koyama Lane added "Without access to Portland's small donor program, I and others like me - a working mother of two living on a public school teacher salary - would have never been able to even contemplate running for elected office, let alone running and being elected!"

The Small Donor Elections program is committed to strengthening public trust in democratic institutions, especially their elected leaders and government. The program seeks to serve as a model for effective governance - conducting rigorous user experience research, undergoing performance evaluation through both qualitative and quantitative analysis, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and maintaining a high standard of public transparency.

The public release of this report underscores that commitment. The Small Donor Elections program is already implementing the recommendations to ensure the electoral process remains fair, accessible and trusted by the public in future election cycles.