Liv Osthus has taken a very unconventional path to being a viable candidate for Portland’s highest political office. The 50 year-old from Sioux Falls, South Dakota is the daughter of a Lutheran preacher who moved to Portland in 1996 and fell in love with our city’s infamously bohemian lifestyle. She’s been a professional stripper ever since and still works at Mary’s Club, where, with each dollar she takes from an adoring customer, she hones the catchphrase that has since become the title of a full-length documentary about her life, “Thank your for supporting the arts.”
Now this author, singer, speaker, single mom of a 9-year-old daughter and noted advocate for sex workers, is garnering attention on a different stage: politics. Osthus’ campaign for Portland mayor has caught fire in recent days and weeks as Portlanders seek an alternative to the status quo. She’s breaking through with memorable performances in debates and forums where she shares a vision of Portland that’s “full of hopefulness, not homelessness.”
Osthus jumped into the race relatively late with no money or volunteers, but has since garnered considerable amounts of both. What was once an innocent attempt to inject a new, optimistic and artistic spirit into the race, has become something more substantial. This week Osthus unveiled large campaign billboards (one of them is a spoof on the famous “Expose yourself to art” poster made famous by former Mayor Bud Clark that reads, “Expose yourself to politics”) and she’s a regular at high-profile events alongside the front-runners. With Portland about to rank votes for the first time ever, a sense of “What if?” still floats around her campaign.
In this interview Osthus ranks her choices for mayor with honest assessments of her competitors, explains why her top priorities differ from other candidates, shares her personal mobility story, tells me why the time is right for the Liv Osthus Era in Portland, and more.
Listen in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.
— Learn more about Liv Osthus at her campaign website or her Rose City Reform Candidate page. You can also watch Osthus in the KGW/The Oregonian Mayoral Debate tonight (Tuesday, October 15) at 6:30 pm.
Thanks for reading.
BikePortland has served this community with independent community journalism since 2005. We rely on subscriptions from readers like you to survive. Your financial support is vital in keeping this valuable resource alive and well.
Please subscribe today to strengthen and expand our work.
I just watched the debate on KGW. She is like Bud Clark, would make a fine mayor, She completely understands her role. She made the others seem like pandering politicians which they are.
Portland has serious problems.
This is not the time for a novelty candidate. Read the room, Liv.
and what type of politicians do you think got us into this mess??
Why are you so convinced that we can’t do worse?
I’m not so convinced of anything right now Jeff.
The primary job of the mayor in the new system is to be a manager.
Vote accordingly.
Let’s run that Down…
Wilson has management experience but his no. 1 issue will polarize the city right off the bat. Finding and getting 25 neighborhood locations for Homeless will instantly pit every district and neighborhoods against the others…
‘Gonzalez is just polarizing, period.
Mapps doesn’t really want the job…
‘Rubio can’t manage her life…
‘If you actually listen to Osthus, she seems intelligent, in line with all the others on most of the issues and might work better with the new government.
Also, with her background she just might be motivated to do something that actually slows down the human trafficking horror that Portland (and Seattle) are infamous for. I don’t understand why houselessness sucks all the oxygen out of the room when there is modern slavery going on in the clubs and massage parlors all over town.
Sex workers disagree with you.
The war against prostitution by the religious right is not the same thing as “trafficking”. If trafficking was indeed doing on in Portland, then why don’t we see specific trafficking criminal charges filed, instead of the lesser crimes of prostitution and solicitation?
Trafficking is real and happens in Portland. This is different than “indigenous” sex work.
Why isn’t it prosecuted (assuming it’s not)? Why did they charge Al Capone with tax evasion? Some crimes are hard to prove.
Here are my 2 cents on the Portland Mayoral Choice: Rene González: A Pragmatic Progressive Choice for Portland’s Future As Portland grapples with pressing issues—from the housing crisis to climate change—we need a mayor who not only shares our progressive values but also has a practical plan to achieve them. René González is that candidate, offering a vision that combines bold, community-centered action with real, measurable outcomes.
1. Housing for All: A Real Plan for Affordable Housing Portland’s housing affordability crisis is pushing too many people into homelessness or out of the city entirely. René González is committed to addressing this by expanding affordable housing and protecting renters from skyrocketing costs.
Example: Rene supports reforming zoning laws to allow for more multifamily housing in traditionally single-family zones. This means more duplexes, triplexes, and affordable housing developments in areas currently reserved for wealthier homeowners. By increasing the supply of affordable units and ensuring they are distributed equitably across the city, René is fighting gentrification and displacement of historically marginalized communities.
In addition, René advocates for community land trusts where residents, not profit-driven developers, control housing. This model helps keep housing affordable long-term by allowing nonprofit organizations to own land while individuals purchase or rent homes on it.
2. Social Justice and Equity at the Core Rene understands that Portland’s deep-rooted issues of racial and economic inequality require systemic changes. He prioritizes policies that center on racial equity and economic justice.
Example: Under René’s leadership, the city will increase funding for BIPOC-owned businesses, especially in historically underserved neighborhoods like the Albina District. His plan includes creating grants and low-interest loans to help these businesses thrive, boosting economic opportunity for communities of color.
René also plans to invest in youth apprenticeship programs for young people in marginalized communities, giving them access to skills training and job opportunities in the green economy, construction, and tech sectors. By prioritizing education and job creation for at-risk youth, René is addressing the root causes of inequality.
3. Police Reform with Accountability While many are calling for a rethinking of public safety, René González understands that we need a balanced approach that ensures both safety and justice. His commitment to police reform focuses on reducing police violence while increasing public trust.
Example: Rene proposes expanding Portland Street Response, a program that sends unarmed teams of mental health professionals and medics to respond to non-violent 911 calls, such as those involving individuals experiencing homelessness or mental health crises. This initiative reduces police involvement in situations where armed response is unnecessary, helping de-escalate encounters and prevent harm to vulnerable residents.
Additionally, René supports establishing a civilian oversight board with real investigatory power to hold police accountable for misconduct. This oversight body would ensure that any instance of excessive force or racial profiling is thoroughly investigated by an independent, community-led entity.
4. A Progressive Green Future Climate change is a defining issue for our generation, and René González is deeply committed to taking bold steps to make Portland a leader in sustainability and environmental justice.
Example: René plans to expand Portland’s free public transit program, starting with low-income residents and students. Free or reduced-fare transit makes commuting more affordable and accessible while reducing the city’s reliance on cars, cutting down on carbon emissions.
He also proposes a citywide Green Jobs Initiative, prioritizing the hiring and training of workers from marginalized communities for projects focused on renewable energy, weatherizing homes, and building green infrastructure. René’s plan ensures that the benefits of Portland’s transition to a green economy reach those who have been historically left behind, such as low-income families and communities of color.
5. Accountability and Pragmatic Progressivism What makes René González the ideal choice for Portland is his commitment to data-driven, transparent governance. He is focused on building coalitions with community groups to ensure that policies reflect the needs of all Portlanders and that outcomes are measured in real-world impacts.
Example: Rene plans to create a People’s Budget process, where residents have a direct say in how a portion of the city’s budget is allocated. This participatory budgeting model would allow community members—especially those in marginalized areas—to vote on projects like improving parks, funding public art, or enhancing street safety. This is a real, democratic way to ensure that city resources go where they are most needed.
Why Progressives Should Support RenéRené González embodies the core principles of the progressive movement—equity, justice, and environmental sustainability—but he also brings a practical approach to getting things done. He offers policies that center on community empowerment and systemic reform, ensuring that the changes we need actually happen.
René’s leadership is about making Portland livable for all. Whether it’s addressing housing affordability through land trusts, tackling police reform by expanding unarmed response teams, or fighting climate change with green job creation, his approach is rooted in justice, equity, and sustainability.
Supporting Rene González is a vote for a pragmatic progressive future—a future where Portland’s ideals are met with action, and where our city leads the nation in bold, inclusive change.
Did you just feel an incredibly irresistible urge to cut and past a very long political ad onto a discussion centered on someone else?
Not sure where you copy/pasted that from, but “my 2 cents” implies that you wrote it. Also, Rene “ouch, you hurt me!” Gonzalez is impossible to take seriously. He said his ambition is to be known as “the toughest mayor on the West Coast.” There’s someone whose dreams are limited by the scope of his imagination, or possibly by his own insecurities.
If this is a joke, I don’t get it. But I can’t see how it could be anything other than a joke.
Painful mental gymnastics being done to justify this candidate’s consideration, like, at all.
Can Portland please grow up? Isn’t it time to get serious about the city where we live?
Love Liv. She would make an awesome mayor. Could use some help figuring out a transportation policy and how it connects with housing, environment, and culture. There is such a strong connection, which Bud Clark tapped into, hope she keeps running and talking to transportation advocates.