[1] Portland uses a nonpartisan system for local elections, in which all voters are eligible to participate.

All candidates meeting the qualifications competed in a blanket primary election on Tuesday, May 15, 2012.

[2] As no candidate received an absolute majority, the top two finishers advanced to a runoff in the November 6 general election.

[3] In the general election, former city commissioner Charlie Hales defeated state representative Jefferson Smith with approximately 61% of the vote.

[4] The November 6 general election was a race between Charlie Hales and Jefferson Smith.