Serena Cruz is running for Multnomah County Commission District 2 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.The county’s official ballot lists this nonpartisan race as a four-year term. Cruz is one of seven certified candidates, alongside Bri Williams, Bruce Broussard, Herman Greene, Nabil Zaghloul, Nathan Ong Norris and Tony Robertson.

Asked why she is running, Cruz said in our candidate questionnaire: "Multnomah County residents are struggling. Too many neighbors with severe mental illness and/or addiction are living outside. Families leave to find cheaper housing. Seniors can't afford to stay in their homes."

"… I want North and Northeast Portland to be a place where people can afford to live, get the care they need and trust their government to deliver," she said.

Candidate information

Residence: Northeast Portland

Party affiliation: Cruz said she has "been registered as a Democrat since I could vote," adding: "This is a nonpartisan seat and I will serve everyone in District 2, whether or not they voted for me. County services don't ask which party you belong to. Neither will I."She holds a bachelor of arts in political science with a minor in economics from Lewis & Clark College. She earned a master of public policy from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and a juris doctor from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.

Family: Cruz said in our questionnaire: "My partner, Bill, retired from Metro regional government. His loving support makes this campaign possible. We live on a block where our neighbors care for one another. Every other week in the summer, we close off the street and share a meal."

Experience and public service

Cruz said in our questionnaire she was "the youngest woman and the first Latina ever elected to the Commission." She served two terms as District 2 commissioner from 1999 to 2006.

She later served as chief operating officer of Multnomah County from 2021 to 2024. Cruz described her work in our questionnaire: "Principal and Founder, Adelante Impact LLC (2025 - present). I advise government agencies, nonprofits and foundations on strategy, organizational development, and leadership."

Her prior roles include executive director of the Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation from 2013 to 2021, co-founder of Albina Construction LLC and academic advisor at Portland Community College's Cascade Campus.

On the issues

Asked about past accomplishments, Cruz said: "Bridges to Housing. As Commissioner, I led the formation of a regional partnership for high-need homeless families. It brought together four counties (Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington and Clark), housing authorities, service providers and private funders."

Cruz also cited her work on vaccine equity: "At Virginia Garcia, I led our advocacy and worked with organizations statewide on vaccine equity. Together, we secured a funded commitment from Governor Brown to ensure BIPOC communities had real access to COVID-19 vaccines."

Responses are based on public data and answers to a Surround Sound Media questionnaire if they were provided.