Portland City Auditor Simone Rede runs for re-election

February 4, 2026

City Auditor Simone Rede announced her re-election campaign Wednesday morning, making her the first to seek a four-year term in the role since Portland’s new form of government took effect last year. Rede filed a notice of intent to participate in the city’s Small Donor Elections program in January.

Rede currently oversees the city archives, audit services, and the city ombudsman, in addition to her executive office. She was elected in May 2022 with overwhelming support from voters and won re-election unopposed to a second term in November 2024. Changes to the city’s form of government require the city auditor and half of city council to serve initial two-year terms. Since taking office in January 2023, Rede has released audit reports highlighting mismanagement, waste, and harm to Portlanders, recently in the city’s maintenance of public assets and specifically parks.

“I am running for re-election because I want to continue to make city government more accountable and accessible to the public,” Rede said. “I want to advance my priorities to involve the public in the office's work, independently oversee the city's response to our homelessness crisis, and increase diversity, equity, and inclusion across city programs.”

Rede is a Certified Internal Auditor and Certified Government Auditing Professional. Before earning a master’s degree in public policy, she worked as an advocate in Portland-area alternative high schools for students to continue their education. Rede has been a government performance auditor since 2013, first with the Oregon Secretary of State, and at Metro for seven years.

Rede grew up in Northeast Portland and attended Portland Public Schools. She is the first person of color and the first LGBTQ+ person to hold the office. She identifies as a Latina lesbian.

The auditor is elected citywide and will be elected to a four-year term in November 2026.