In the fourth round of preliminary ranked-choice results released Thursday, Singleton led with 139,164 votes, or 57.2%, compared to 103,913 votes, or 42.75%, for fellow Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards. The contest was the first countywide election in Multnomah County to use ranked-choice voting, a system that allowed voters to rank multiple candidates. Former commissioner Sharon Meieran finished a distant third.

Singleton’s victory comes despite being heavily outspent. She raised just over $55,000 by Election Day, while Brim-Edwards raised $250,000 and Meieran raised $195,000. Brim-Edwards had also secured endorsements from all six of the county’s mayors and several prominent unions, but her campaign was rocked by controversies in the final months.

In July, seven current and former Portland School Board members signed a letter warning that Brim-Edwards was not suited for leadership. More recently, allegations surfaced that Brim-Edwards had made comments during School Board executive sessions suggesting that trans athletes might hurt scholarship opportunities for other kids. Brim-Edwards denied making the comments and disputed the nature of the letter, but the fallout led both Basic Rights Oregon and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 88—the county’s largest labor union—to rescind their endorsements of her shortly before Election Day. Local 88 switched its endorsement to Singleton.

In a statement Thursday, Singleton thanked supporters and said she had heard “loud and clear the work that needs to get done to improve services for people experiencing homelessness, behavioral health challenges, or struggling with the affordability crisis.” She added, “I am beginning the work now to start on the first of the year in a full sprint.”

Brim-Edwards conceded earlier on Thursday. “While the outcome was not the one I hoped for, I gave the campaign my best effort and am proud I ran a strong and positive campaign that earned the support of a broad and diverse coalition of more than 200 community leaders and organizations,” she said in a statement.

Singleton will succeed current County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, who announced in December that she would not seek a second term. Vega Pederson’s tenure was marked by turmoil and discontent over her handling of homeless services, a drug deflection center, and the implementation of Preschool for All, the county’s universal preschool initiative.

On election night, Singleton called Local 88’s decision to rescind its endorsement of Brim-Edwards a “powerful moment.” She also noted that the union had issued a vote of no confidence in Vega Pederson and chief operating officer Chris Neal, signaling that there was work to be done in repairing the relationship between county leadership and labor. Singleton said she intends to establish a dedicated labor table in her office to rebuild that relationship. “I’ve been a manager, and I know sometimes we’re not going to agree,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t have a fair process and be respectful along the way.”

Brim-Edwards will remain in her seat on the county board for another two years. In the race to replace Singleton as District 2 commissioner, Bri Williams, a social worker and mental health consultant for the county who provides services to preschool-aged children at Albina Head Start, won the seat, defeating Serena Cruz, who recently served as the county’s chief operating officer. According to Oregon Live, Singleton and Williams’ victories usher in the board’s first Black majority.

Singleton’s win marks a shift in county leadership at a time when voters have expressed deep frustration over the region’s response to homelessness and affordability. Her campaign focused on improving services for the most vulnerable residents, and she now faces the challenge of delivering on those promises while navigating a board that will include new faces and a mandate for change.