Hillsboro City Councilor Kipperlyn Sinclair has taken the lead over former Hillsboro Mayor Steve Callaway in the race for Washington County Commission District 4, according to the latest published unofficial results.

Sinclair had 17,067 votes, or 50.56%, compared with 16,690 votes, or 49.44%, for Callaway in results reported by OPB early Nov. 5. Sinclair's lead stood at 377 votes.

The race has shifted several times since election night. Callaway initially led by 38 votes in the first returns released Nov. 3. Sinclair moved ahead in subsequent updates, building a 377-vote advantage by the county's Nov. 4 afternoon release.

The results remain unofficial. Washington County's elections office scheduled its next results update for 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, with additional updates planned Nov. 13, 20 and 27. The county's schedule lists Nov. 30 as the date for certified final results, while the Oregon Secretary of State says statewide certification is due Dec. 10.

District 4 covers western Washington County, including Banks, Gales Creek, Forest Grove, Cornelius, North Plains, Gaston and parts of Hillsboro. The seat is open as Commissioner Jerry Willey retires. The winner will serve a four-year term beginning in January 2027.

Where the candidates stand

The nonpartisan race centered on data centers, affordability, farmland and public safety.

Callaway, who served as Hillsboro mayor from 2017 to 2024, told KGW that affordability was the top concern he heard from voters. He said the county should monitor costs it controls, including fees and taxes, and identified jail staffing and road maintenance as public safety priorities.

Callaway also said he supported Oregon's statewide pause on data center development and wanted to use the moratorium period to discuss future incentives while protecting farmland and natural resources.

Sinclair, a Hillsboro City Councilor since 2023, took a stronger position against tax breaks for data centers and their expansion onto prime farmland. Her campaign said corporations should pay their fair share toward schools and community services.

Sinclair's affordability proposals included supporting independent businesses through tax credits and economic improvement districts, as well as advocating for transit-oriented workforce housing. She also emphasized food security and investment in local farm-to-market distribution.

In a written statement to KGW, Sinclair said: "I am not a corporate candidate … My sole priority is the benefit of our community."

Endorsements and background

Callaway, a former president of the League of Oregon Cities, was endorsed by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce PAC. Sinclair, who previously served as president of the Hillsboro Transportation Committee, was endorsed by Friends of Smart Growth.

The candidates advanced from a six-person primary in May after neither received a majority. Callaway finished first with 32.85% of the vote, while Sinclair received 21.40%, according to the certified primary results.

The District 4 commissioner represents communities across western Washington County on the five-member Board of Commissioners. The position helps shape county decisions on land use, public services, transportation and economic development.

Voters can follow updated totals through the Washington County Elections Division and the Oregon Secretary of State's election results page.