Sameer Kanal
Sameer Kanal | |
|---|---|
 Sameer Kanal at campaign launch | |
| Member of the Portland City Council from District 2 | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2025 Serving with Dan Ryan and Elana Pirtle-Guiney | |
| Preceded by | office established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Portland, Oregon |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Clark College (AA) University of Washington (BA) New York University (MS) |
Sameer Kanal is an American politician who is currently member of the Portland City Council from District 2 after being elected along with Dan Ryan and Elana Pirtle-Guiney in the 2024 election.[1][2] Kanal is one of the twelve inaugural members of Portland's new expanded city council after switching from a city commission government to a mayor–council government.[3] He is the first Asian American (along with fellow council member-elect Tiffany Koyama Lane) and first South Asian American to serve on Portland City Council.[4]
Early life and education
[edit]Kanal was born in Portland, Oregon at the Bess Kaiser Hospital that is now part of the Adidas America headquarters.[5] He grew up in the Overlook neighborhood. His parents immigrated from India. His father was a Telecom Industry Economist, and subsequently a small business owner, and his mother worked for the State of Oregon helping new refugees.[6]
Kanal attended Clark College and received his Associate's degree in international relations and political science. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and economics from the University of Washington before getting his Master of Science degree in global affairs from New York University.[7][8]
Career
[edit]
On May 28, 2024, Kanal announced his intention to run for a seat on the newly expanded city council in the 2024 election.[9]
Kanal, along with Dan Ryan and Elana Pirtle-Guiney, won the race to represent District 2, which covers North and most of Northeast Portland.[2]
He, along with fellow council members Mitch Green of District 4 and Tiffany Koyama Lane of District 3, are members of the Democratic Socialists of America.[10]
Personal life
[edit]Kanal lives in the Portsmouth neighborhood.[11]
He is a drummer, and in high school frequently performed at the Portland Saturday Market. He is a fan of the Portland Trail Blazers and is a season ticket holder for the Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns FC.[12][6]
See also
[edit]- List of New York University alumni
- List of people from Portland, Oregon
- List of University of Washington people
References
[edit]- ^ "Sameer Kanal: Portland City Council District 2". The Oregonian. September 13, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ a b "MultCo Elections - Ranked Choice Voting Results". rcvresults.multco.us. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ "Learn more about the City of Portland's transition | Portland.gov". www.portland.gov. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
- ^ Savio, Anna Del (October 18, 2024). "RUNNING FOR OFFICE: Tiffany Koyama Lane". NW Labor Press. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
- ^ "Know Your Candidates 2024: Sameer Kanal, Portland City Council, District 2". KATU. October 16, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ a b "About Sameer Kanal". Kanal for Portland. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ "City Council Entrance Interview: Sameer Kanal". Willamette Week. November 1, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ "Sameer Kanal: Portland City Council District 2". The Oregonian. September 13, 2024. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- ^ "City of Portland Community Safety Division Leader Sameer Kanal Announces Run for City Council". Kanal for Portland. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ Kavanaugh, Shane Dixon (November 8, 2024). "Frustrated Portland voters embrace new crop of progressive candidates as final Oregon election results are tallied". The Oregonian. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
By contrast, three members of the Democratic Socialists of America — Mitch Green, Sameer Kanal, Tiffany Koyama Lane — will make up a portion of the council's substantial left flank...
- ^ "Sameer Kanal - Candidate Filing". City of Portland.
- ^ "City Council Entrance Interview: Sameer Kanal". Willamette Week. November 1, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- Living people
- American people of Indian descent
- American politicians of Indian descent
- Clark College alumni
- Members of the Democratic Socialists of America from Oregon
- New York University alumni
- Oregon politicians
- Portland City Council members (Oregon)
- Asian-American people in Oregon politics
- People from Portland, Oregon
- University of Washington alumni