Keith Wilson

Keith Wilson
Nationality	American
Occupation	Businessman, politician
Title	Mayor of Portland, Oregon
Known for	Mayor of Portland, Oregon

Keith Wilson is an American businessperson and politician serving as the Mayor of Portland, Oregon. Taking office in 2025, Wilson entered the mayoralty during a period of significant challenges for the city, including homelessness, addiction, and tensions surrounding federal immigration enforcement. His tenure has been marked by public statements opposing federal actions in Portland, efforts to address addiction recovery and homelessness, and initiatives aimed at supporting small businesses and immigrant communities. Before entering politics, Wilson was known as a business leader in the Portland area. As mayor, he has drawn attention both locally and nationally for his outspoken responses to federal law enforcement activity within the city, positioning himself as a defender of Portland residents' rights amid broader political conflicts between local and federal authorities.

Career

Mayoralty

Keith Wilson assumed the office of Mayor of Portland in 2025. His administration has focused on several key policy areas, including homelessness and addiction recovery, immigrant affairs, environmental regulation, small business support, and the city's relationship with federal agencies.

Homelessness and Addiction Recovery

In October 2025, Mayor Wilson announced plans to open addiction recovery shelter beds in Portland. The initiative was part of a broader effort to address the city's ongoing homelessness and substance abuse crises, which had been among the most prominent issues facing Portland in the years preceding Wilson's tenure. During a press interview in his office at Portland City Hall on October 22, 2025, Wilson discussed the details of the plan, which aimed to expand the availability of shelter beds specifically dedicated to individuals seeking treatment for addiction.

Response to Federal Immigration Enforcement

One of the most defining aspects of Wilson's early tenure has been his response to federal immigration enforcement actions in Portland. In late January and early February 2026, tensions escalated between the city and federal authorities, particularly U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

On January 31, 2026, Mayor Wilson issued a statement in response to the federal use of chemical munitions at what he described as a peaceful protest. In the statement, Wilson declared: "Our nation will never accept a federal presence where agents wield deadly force against the very people they" are meant to serve, criticizing the actions of federal agents operating within Portland.

The situation intensified in early February 2026. After protesters were gassed at a Portland ICE building, Wilson issued what was described as a "scathing statement," urging Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to resign and telling their superiors to leave Portland. The statement drew significant media attention and placed Wilson at the center of a national debate about the role of federal immigration enforcement in American cities.

The federal enforcement actions and Wilson's response also prompted public demonstrations directed at the mayor himself. On February 7, 2026, approximately one hundred protesters marched from a Northeast Portland park to Wilson's residence. The protesters carried signs reading "Tell Mayor Keith Wilson ICE OUT," indicating that some community members wanted Wilson to take an even stronger stance against federal immigration enforcement in the city.

Environmental Advocacy

In February 2026, Mayor Wilson joined Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson in responding to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rollback of environmental safety regulations. The joint response criticized the federal agency's decision, which they said "effectively eliminates the basis for regulating these harmful emissions that are a direct threat to public health." The statement reflected Wilson's willingness to challenge federal policy decisions that he and other local leaders viewed as detrimental to Portland residents' health and safety.

Immigrant Affairs

On February 23, 2026, Mayor Wilson appointed Brenda Alvarado as the City of Portland's first immigrant affairs lead. Alvarado brought experience from her work with the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition and service in two congressional offices. The creation of the position and the appointment were described as a first for the city, establishing a dedicated role within the mayor's administration focused on immigrant affairs. The appointment came amid the broader tensions between Portland's local government and federal immigration authorities.

Small Business Support

In February 2026, Wilson co-sponsored legislation with Portland City Councilor Eric Zimmerman to raise the city's small business license tax exemption. The proposal aimed to increase the threshold at which small businesses become subject to Portland's Business License Tax, providing financial relief to smaller enterprises operating within the city.