Political Science Alum Elected Mayor of Portland

Sam Adams, an alumnus of the Department of Political Science, won the mayoral election this May by an overwhelming 59 percent of the vote.

"I'm running not to be a gay mayor, but a great mayor," he told reporters after delivering his victory speech. "But I'm very cognizant, very aware that I'm the first openly gay mayor of a major American city. That's a real honor."

Adams, 45, is one of Oregon's fastest-rising political stars. He spent his high school years in Eugene, then started college at the UO but decided in 1984 to postpone finishing in order to join U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio's campaign as an intern.

Shortly thereafter, he was elected Lane County Democratic Party chairman. A few years later, in 1991, he managed Vera Katz's first campaign for mayor of Portland and was Katz's chief of staff during the following 11 years while she was in office.

Adams returned to the UO to finish his degree in political science and graduated in 2002.  He went on to narrowly win a seat on the Portland City Commission in 2004, where he has served since then.

Over the years Adams has taught himself how to be a politician and has become known as a policy wonk and City Hall insider. His sexual orientation was never a campaign issue during the contest earlier this year against Portland businessman Sho Dozono, who earned 34 percent of the vote.