Portland Mailers: Local races fought on glossy paper

Voters in the Portland metro area are facing a barrage of glossy flyers as local candidates fight for control of City Hall and Multnomah County headquarters. With campaign finance limits restricting television advertising, the battle has moved into mailboxes. Willamette Week staff recently reviewed dozens of these mailers to identify the most memorable and unusual pieces from the 2026 election cycle.

The process began as WW journalists gathered in a conference room to sort through the materials received from candidates running for local, state, and federal office. The group assigned awards to specific mailers, a practice described by staff as similar to high school yearbook superlatives but with a sharper edge. The review covers the current race for Oregon governor and various local municipal positions.

Kellie Torres, a candidate for Portland City Council District 3, received the award for Most Firefighters. Her mailer features a photo of her posing with 11 firefighters. Julia Brim-Edwards, who is running for Multnomah County chair, earned an honorable mention for her photo, which included three firefighters with mustaches. Torres also won for Best Stunt Baby, a category that recognizes the use of infants in campaign imagery to evoke hope and freshness.

Christine Drazan, the Republican nominee for Oregon governor, took home the award for Most Twisted Metaphor. Her mailer displays a photo of one hand juicing an orange and another clutching an empty leather wallet. The text accompanying the image reads, "Thanks to the status quo in Salem..We’re squeezing a lot more than oranges these days." Drazan is currently facing Tina Kotek in a tight gubernatorial race.

Tina Kotek’s campaign also received recognition, specifically for Least Convincing Photoshop. Her mailer depicts Drazan standing next to President Donald Trump with the caption, "When Donald Trump comes for Oregon..Christine Drazan stands with him." The image was criticized for low resolution, gray filters, and mismatched sizing between the two figures. The mailer was deemed a poor visual representation of the political alliance.

Other awards went to specific candidates for their unique branding choices. Tiffany Koyama Lane, a sitting City Councilor, was named for Most Frequent References to Résumé, with the word "teacher" appearing 11 times in her mailer despite her two-year tenure in office. Eli Arnold, a police officer and City Council candidate, won for Best Unattributed Quote, which described him as a "community dad at large" without specifying who gave him that title. Angelita Morillo, another City Councilor, was noted for using the slogan "Promises Made, Promises Kept," a phrase frequently used by President Trump.

Sharon Meieran, a candidate for Multnomah County chair, received the award for Most Unbridled Confidence. Her mailer states, "Multnomah County is broken," and asserts that she is the only candidate with a plan to fix it. The piece highlights her background as a doctor, lawyer, and former county commissioner. Meanwhile, Mitch Green, a District 4 candidate, won for Best Menu, featuring a logo resembling a beer advertisement and a hot dog illustration with the name "Mitch" written in mustard, a nod to his 2025 initiative to legalize sidewalk hot dog vendors.

The cycle continues as these candidates prepare for the upcoming general election. The mailers serve as the primary communication channel for many voters who cannot afford or access television advertising. The variety of designs and messages reflects the competitive nature of the local races in Multnomah County and the City of Portland.