Charlie Hales drops out of Mayor's race

Kari Chisholm FacebookTwitterWebsite

Boom. Mayor Charlie Hales has announced that he's abandoning his bid for Mayor of Portland.

That makes him the third mayor in a row to serve a single term and decline to run for re-election. (After Mayor Vera Katz served three terms herself.)

The news comes just a dozen days after State Treasurer Ted Wheeler announced that he had won the endorsements of the three previous mayors: Katz, Tom Potter, and Sam Adams.

Hales clearly made a political calculation that his campaign was in big trouble and Wheeler was on track to win the campaign. Putting a brave face on it, Hales told the Oregonian:

"This isn't a political calculation that I'm in big trouble. I think the race is wide open, and I think I would win if I poured myself into campaigning."

This puts Wheeler on a fast track to City Hall -- though it's entirely possible that Hales's departure will encourage other serious candidates to get in the race. Stay tuned!

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