Lamar Wise

Lamar Wise
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
from the 48th district
Assumed office
November 5, 2025
Preceded byHòa Nguyễn
Personal details
PartyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Oregon

Lamar Wise is an American organizer and politician from Portland serving as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 48th district. He was appointed to succeed the late Rep. Hòa Nguyễn on November 5, 2026.[1]

Career

Wise served as the legislative director and executive director of the Oregon Student Association before moving on to become the political director at AFSCME Oregon Council 75.[2] He has also served on the Higher Education Coordinating Commission[3] and the City of Portland's Independent District Commission, which drew the maps for Portland's 2024 City Council election.

Politics

Wise previously sought appointment to the Oregon State Senate in District 15 based in Hillsboro upon the retirement of Sen. Chuck Riley in 2021, losing out to then-Rep. Janeen Sollman by a 4–1 vote of the Washington County Commission.[4][5] He then sought appointment to the vacant seat in House District 30, but was defeated by Nathan Sosa.[6]

Wise announced his intent to seek appointment to the State House in House District 48 on October 22, 2025. He won appointment to the seat against José Gamero-Georgeson, member of the David Douglas School Board, and Terrence Hayes, former candidate for Portland City Council in District 1 and small business owner, in a vote of the Multnomah and Clackamas County Commissions. Wise won the vote of 4 out of the 5 Multnomah County commissioners, whose votes were weighted more heavily due to the district's population distribution.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Maldonado, Mia (2025-11-05). "Labor advocate appointed to serve remainder of Oregon Rep. Hòa Nguyễn's term • Oregon Capital Chronicle". Oregon Capital Chronicle. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  2. ^ "Directors". Oregon AFSCME Council 75. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  3. ^ "Higher Education Coordinating Commission changes". University of Oregon Government and Community Relations. University of Oregon. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  4. ^ Lieberman, Tori. "Labor Organizer Lamar Wise Bids to Succeed Sen. Chuck Riley". Willamette Week. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  5. ^ Borrud, Hillary. "Washington County commissioners appoint Democrat Janeen Sollman to vacant state Senate seat". The Oregonian. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  6. ^ Lehman, Chris. "With new speaker and new faces, Legislature kicks off 2022 session". The Oregonian. Retrieved 5 November 2025.