Keith Wilson | |
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![]() Wilson in 2024 | |
54th Mayor of Portland | |
Assumed office January 1, 2025 | |
Preceded by | Ted Wheeler |
Personal details | |
Born | 1963 (age 61–62) Portland,Oregon,U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Children | 2 |
Education | Portland Community College Oregon State University (BA) University of Portland (MBA) |
Keith Wilson (born 1963) [1] is an American businessman and Democratic politician who is serving as the 54th mayor of Portland,Oregon,since 2025. [2] [3] He is the president and chief executive officer of Titan Freight Systems. [4]
Wilson was born and raised in Portland,Oregon. [5] He grew up in North Portland. [6] Wilson received a Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University (OSU) in business administration and management,and later received a Master of Business Administration degree in business administration and marketing from the University of Portland. [4] [5]
After attending PCC and OSU,Wilson moved to New York City to work for NBC in the sales department. He was homeless for a short time,living in LaGuardia Airport. [4] In 1990,he returned to Portland to help his father run the family company. [4] In 1998,Wilson merged his father's two companies into one,Titan Freight Systems. [4] Wilson is also the founder of Shelter Portland,a nonprofit organization seeking to end homelessness. [7]
Wilson self-funded multiple trips to various cities and countries around the world in order to talk with experts on homelessness. [4] He was a delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention and was a member of the Platform Committee. [8]
On June 12,2024,Wilson announced his intention to run for mayor of Portland in the 2024 election. [9] Part of his campaign promises is to completely end unsheltered homelessness in Portland. [10] [11] On election night,November 5,2024,Wilson had an early lead. He and city commissioner Carmen Rubio advanced past the first few rounds of tabulation. [12] The next day,most news agencies called the race for Wilson and Rubio conceded. [13]
According to The Oregonian ,"Wilson's pitch to tackle homelessness,crime and livability —top concerns with Portland voters —came with a full-throated insistence they can be remedied with care and compassion. He made the audacious pledge to largely end unsheltered homelessness within a year the crux of his campaign." [14] He has proposed increasing the number of walk-in emergency shelters in existing churches and other community spaces. [6] [15]
Wilson is married and has two children. [16]