Edward Tevis Wheeler, commonly known as Ted Wheeler, is the mayor of Portland, Oregon, a position he has held since January 1, 2017. Before his mayoral tenure, he served as Oregon's State Treasurer from 2010 to 2016.
Wheeler was first elected mayor in 2016 and won re-election in 2020. Although he was previously a registered Republican, he now identifies as a moderate Democrat. His political career has emphasized financial acumen and a pragmatic approach to urban governance.
Ted Wheeler was born on August 31, 1962, in Portland, Oregon. His full name is Edward Tevis Wheeler. He is one of several siblings, with family roots in the Portland area. His parents are Sam Wheeler and Leslie Wheeler.
Wheeler attended public schools in Portland and graduated from Lincoln High School. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in economics from Stanford University in 1985. He later obtained an MBA from Columbia University and a Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard University.
Prior to entering public office, Wheeler worked in the financial sector, including positions at Bank of America and Copper Mountain Trust. His professional experience in financial services gave him a foundation in fiscal management, which would become a hallmark of his political career.
In 2006, Wheeler was elected as the Chair of the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, becoming the county’s top executive. This position helped establish his reputation for effective public administration and financial oversight.
On March 9, 2010, Governor Ted Kulongoski appointed Wheeler as Oregon State Treasurer to succeed Ben Westlund, who had recently died of lung cancer. Wheeler soon secured the position by winning the Democratic primary against Rick Metsger and went on to defeat Republican Chris Telfer and other third-party candidates in the November special election. He was re-elected in 2012 to a full term.
As Treasurer, Wheeler implemented cost-saving measures that reportedly saved Oregon over $172 million in cash flow. He championed environmental stewardship, advocating for a significant increase in investments in renewable energy. He also committed the Treasury to halt new coal-related investments and to integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into state investment strategies.
Wheeler pushed for greater transparency and accountability in corporate carbon-risk reporting, encouraging the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to enforce stricter review processes. In addition, he chaired the Oregon Retirement Savings Task Force, which led to the creation of OregonSaves, a state-run retirement savings initiative. During his tenure, the value of Oregon's pension fund grew to more than $72 billion, ranking among the top five public pension funds in the United States.
