Multnomah County Chair: 2026 Candidates & Ballot

Three candidates filed for the open chair seat after Chair Jessica Vega Pederson announced she would not seek re-election, per OPB. Two are sitting county commissioners: Julia Brim-Edwards (District 3) and Shannon Singleton (District 2); Sharon Meieran is a former commissioner who also ran for chair in 2022. This is the county's first ranked-choice election for the office, per multco.us. This contest is on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

Julia Brim-Edwards

Nonpartisan

Biography

Brim-Edwards is the sitting Multnomah County Commissioner for District 3, a seat she has held since 2023, per OPB. She previously worked as a senior lobbyist for Nike and served 12 years on the Portland Public Schools board, per OPB.

Top Priorities

Opening a 24/7 sobering center and addressing public safety as a commissioner, per per OPB
Rebuilding trust in county government leadership, per per OPB, quoting her campaign

Sharon Meieran

Nonpartisan

Biography

Meieran is an emergency room physician who served as Multnomah County Commissioner representing the county's westside from 2017 to 2024, per OPB. She previously ran for county chair in 2022 and lost in a runoff to Jessica Vega Pederson, per OPB.

Top Priorities

Restructuring county operations and improving transparency in tracking policy outcomes and spending
Changing the county's approach to behavioral health and homelessness

Per the per OPB.

Shannon Singleton

Nonpartisan

Biography

Singleton is the sitting Multnomah County Commissioner for District 2, covering North and Northeast Portland, per OPB. She previously oversaw the county's homeless services department, led the nonprofit JOIN, served as equity director under then-Gov. Kate Brown, and worked as a social worker at several Portland-area organizations, per OPB.

Questions about this race

Who is running for Multnomah County Chair in 2026?

3 candidates are tracked for Multnomah County Chair on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Julia Brim-Edwards, Sharon Meieran and Shannon Singleton. Candidate information follows official Multnomah County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Multnomah County Chair election in Oregon?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Oregon are on the Oregon election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Multnomah County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.