The union’s members voted 109-31 to rescind the endorsement during an hours-long meeting on Oct. 21. They also voted 80-18 to endorse Singleton. Local 88 represents nearly 4,000 county employees.

Emilie Azorr, a union member who spoke in her personal capacity, said the initial endorsement vote in August drew limited participation and members had not been told an endorsement decision was on the agenda. Brim-Edwards received the endorsement in a 45-30 vote.

“Members were really upset to learn that our union had endorsed Julia Brim-Edwards,” Azorr said, adding that they had little opportunity to raise concerns at the earlier meeting.

Union president Jackie Tate confirmed the votes. She said Local 88’s priorities include good jobs, high-quality public services and serving the county community, particularly its most vulnerable residents.

Singleton said the endorsement reflected the priorities she has discussed during her campaign. She said she was not present for either union vote and would leave it to the organizations involved to explain their decisions.

The county race is the first to use ranked-choice voting, with Brim-Edwards, Singleton and Sharon Meieran competing for the chair position. The union’s reversal comes amid scrutiny of Brim-Edwards’ time on the Portland Public Schools Board of Education. Basic Rights Oregon’s political action committee rescinded its endorsement earlier this month, citing concerns about reports that Brim-Edwards questioned transgender students’ participation in school sports.

Basic Rights Oregon said former school board colleagues reported that Brim-Edwards raised concerns about transgender athletes’ effect on other students’ scholarship opportunities and urged stricter participation rules. The organization did not identify those colleagues, saying it had agreed to keep their identities confidential.

Brim-Edwards has denied the claims and characterized them as a political attack. She said she has a longstanding record of supporting LGBTQ+ rights and marginalized communities, and said her campaign is focused on changes working families need.

Local 88’s endorsement reversal also came after the county voters’ pamphlet was printed with the union’s original support for Brim-Edwards. Separately, a billboard promoting her as a pro-labor candidate was paid for by Fix MultCo, a political action committee funded by United for Portland Action Fund, which is associated with the Portland Metro Chamber. Azorr said she believed the billboard campaign served business interests rather than county workers or the public.