Mayor Ted Wheeler has won reelection to serve for a second term in a city that for months was at the center of civil unrest and protests that many times erupted into violent riots over alleged racism and police brutality in the United States.
"This has not been an easy year for any of us, and I know that many of you are frustrated with the direction of our city," he continued.
The 47-year-old community activist and political newcomer had never held elected office and finished third when she ran for mayor in 2016. She refused to concede defeat in a statement late on Tuesday and said the team was heading to bed, the network reported.
"Let the results continue to roll in, and make sure that every vote is counted in this election," she wrote. "This campaign was always about tactical optimism—the belief that in our darkest hours, we have to believe in and see the path to making the world better."
Wheeler posted on Twitter that on Election Day and beyond, there would be “no tolerance for any violence, intimidation or criminal destruction,” and that people should be “safe while using their voice to advocate for their perspective.”
Despite the mayor's warning, a relatively large group of people marched in anti-Trump demonstrations in the city, with some reports of unrest and property damage.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown had put the National Guard on standby since Portland has seen almost nightly protests since the death of George Floyd in police custody in May.
Hundreds of businesses in cities across the United States boarded up their doors and windows ahead of the election, fearing the vote could lead to the sort of violence that broke out after Floyd's death.