District 3 Seats Take Shape in Ranked-Choice Count
Novick leads first-round results, but the second and third seats stay open as Multnomah County keeps counting.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Civic Engagement
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Voters in Portland City Council District 3 are watching the first ranked-choice results shape who will represent inner Southeast neighborhoods, with Steve Novick leading the initial count. Novick took nearly 30% of the first-round vote, clearing the 25% plus one threshold, while the second and third seats remain open as counting continues.
Why it matters
District 3 is one of four districts that each elect three councilors, so the outcome determines how much of the new council represents Woodstock, Montavilla and the surrounding neighborhoods. Because about 64% of Multnomah County ballots were still uncounted at the first tabulation, the final lineup of who wins the remaining seats is still open.
Novick's nearly 30% first-round share cleared the 25% plus one vote threshold among 21 District 3 candidates competing for three seats. About 64% of Multnomah County ballots had not yet been counted at the first release, so the second and third places remain unsettled.
The players
Steve Novick
Novick is a candidate who led preliminary first-round results in Portland City Council District 3.
Tiffany Koyama Lane
Koyama Lane is a District 3 candidate who placed second in preliminary results.
Angelita Morillo
Morillo is a District 3 candidate who placed third in preliminary results.
The details
Portland elects three councilors from each of four districts using ranked-choice voting, and a candidate must reach 25% plus one vote to win a seat. Votes above that threshold are redistributed to voters' next-ranked choices, and the lowest-polling candidates are eliminated in later rounds with their ballots moving to next choices. Tiffany Koyama Lane placed second and Angelita Morillo third in preliminary results, but those positions could change as the remaining ballots are tallied.
Timeline
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Election day, with preliminary ranked-choice results released around 8 p.m.
Ongoing: Counting continues, with the second and third District 3 seats still undecided.
Beyond the Bridges
This District 3 count is one of the first full tests of Portland's charter reform, which replaced citywide at-large seats with three councilors per district chosen by ranked-choice voting. How the final three seats fall will show whether the new system delivers the district representation it was built to provide.
If you live in Woodstock, Montavilla, Mt. Scott-Arleta or Brentwood-Darlington, the councilors chosen here will represent your street, your permit questions and your neighborhood priorities for the coming term. Check Multnomah County's results as they update, since the last seats may not be decided for some time.
The takeaway
Watch how the second and third District 3 seats settle as the remaining ballots are counted, because the ranked-choice math can move them. Following the county's updated tallies will show who ultimately represents your neighborhood.
Further reading
For more on how residents take part in local decisions, explore Civic Engagement coverage in Portland.
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