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

Fifteen candidates competed in a blanket primary election on May 17, 2016.

[4][5] As Ted Wheeler garnered 54% of the vote, a scheduled November 8 runoff election, scheduled in case that no candidate received an absolute majority, did not take place.

[36] Incumbent mayor Charlie Hales was widely seen as the frontrunner in the election, announcing his bid for re-election in March 2015.

[37][38] In an unexpected move in October 2015, however, Hales announced he would drop his re-election bid and focus on running the city during his final year in office.