Ted Wheeler

Ted Wheeler
Name	Ted Wheeler
Caption	Wheeler in 2016
Office	Mayor of Portland
Term start	January 1, 2017
Term end	January 1, 2025
Predecessor	Charlie Hales
Successor	Scheduled: , Rene Gonzalez
Office1	Oregon State Treasurer
Term start1	March 9, 2010
Term end1	January 1, 2017
Governor1	Ted Kulongoski , John Kitzhaber , Kate Brown
Predecessor1	Ben Westlund
Successor1	Tobias Read
Office2	Multnomah County Chair
Term start2	January 3, 2007
Term end2	March 9, 2010
Predecessor2	Diane Linn
Successor2	Jeff Cogen
Birth date	31 August 1962
Birth place	Portland, Oregon
Party	Democratic
Spouse	Katrina Wheeler
Education	Stanford University (BA) , Columbia University (MBA) , Harvard University (MPA)
Alma mater	Lincoln High School

Ted Wheeler is an American politician who served as the Mayor of Portland from 2017 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously held the offices of Oregon State Treasurer and Multnomah County Chair. His tenure as mayor was defined by navigating significant challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon, widespread racial justice protests, and a persistent homelessness crisis.

Early life and education

Ted Wheeler was born in Portland, Oregon, and attended Lincoln High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Stanford University. Wheeler later pursued graduate studies, receiving a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University and a Master of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Career before politics

Before entering public service, Wheeler worked in the finance sector. He served as the president of Cascade Corporation, a material handling company based in Portland, Oregon. His business background also included roles in investment banking and venture capital, providing a foundation in fiscal management he would later apply in government.

Political career

Wheeler's political career began with his election as Multnomah County Chair in 2006, where he succeeded Diane Linn. In 2010, he was appointed Oregon State Treasurer following the death of Ben Westlund, and was subsequently elected to a full term in November of that year. As treasurer, he oversaw the Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund and served on key state boards including the Oregon Investment Council and the State Land Board.

Mayor of Portland

Elected in 2016, Wheeler succeeded Charlie Hales as Mayor of Portland. His administration immediately confronted a severe shortage of affordable housing and a growing homelessness emergency. The 2020 George Floyd protests in Portland brought national attention, with frequent clashes between demonstrators and federal agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and local Portland Police Bureau officers. Wheeler also led the city's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon, implementing public health mandates and economic relief measures. His tenure saw continued debates over police reform, the expansion of sanctioned homeless campsites, and the declaration of a state of emergency over fentanyl use in downtown Portland.

Personal life

Wheeler is married to Katrina Wheeler. He is an avid outdoorsman, with interests in mountaineering, skiing, and sailing. He has summited major peaks including Mount Hood and Mount Rainier. Wheeler resides in Portland, Oregon.

Electoral history

In the 2010 election for Oregon State Treasurer, Wheeler, a Democrat, defeated Republican candidate Chris Telfer. He won the 2012 race for a full term as treasurer against Tom Cox. In the 2016 Portland mayoral election, he won outright in the primary against a field that included Jules Bailey and Sarah Iannarone. Wheeler was re-elected in 2020, defeating Iannarone in a runoff. He did not seek a third term in the 2024 election, which was won by Rene Gonzalez.

Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:Mayors of Portland, Oregon Category:Oregon State Treasurers Category:Harvard University alumni Category:Columbia Business School alumni Category:Stanford University alumni