Nine candidates are competing for three Hillsboro City Council seats, and ballots start arriving in mailboxes Wednesday, Oct. 14.

The races pit a progressive slate against more moderate opponents in all three wards, with data center policy, housing costs and farmland protection drawing the sharpest divides. The winners will help steer a city of about 111,000 residents and a nearly $2 billion biennial budget. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

OregonLive first reported that the progressive candidates — Diana Jackson in Ward 1, Karim Delgado in Ward 2 and Dorian Russell in Ward 3 — have been dubbed "the seeds of change." All three won endorsements from the Washington County Democratic Party and have called for tighter restrictions on data center tax breaks and stronger farmland protections. Only Delgado has formally adopted the Democratic Socialists of America label.

Though candidates run by ward, all are elected at-large, so every Hillsboro voter will see all nine names on the ballot, according to the Hillsboro News-Times.

Ward 1: four candidates, one censured incumbent

The most crowded race features incumbent Councilor Cristian Salgado, Jackson, Luis Garcia and Sarah Marugg.

Salgado was appointed in January 2025 to fill the vacancy left when Beach Pace became mayor. His five colleagues voted on July 7 to censure him under Resolution No. 2927, accusing him of livestreaming from his phone to antagonize audience members during a June 16 meeting on data centers. Salgado was barred from voting on the measure. Attendees also accused him of blowing a kiss to an audience member, which they called sexual harassment. The meeting livestream did not capture that moment, and Salgado denied it happened. State campaign finance records show he has raised about $210.

Jackson, a legal assistant and Hillsboro Planning Commission member, has raised $11,163, according to campaign finance records. She told OregonLive, "Running for office is not a long held dream of mine. I am running because I have felt and seen the impacts of the decisions made on the City Council dais."

Garcia, a health information systems designer at Kaiser Permanente, has raised $8,593 and is endorsed by Mayor Pace and the Hillsboro Police Officers Association. Marugg, a tax accountant for the city of Portland, had raised no money as of Oct. 9 but holds endorsements from Hillsboro police and firefighter groups.

Ward 2: fundraising gap in a two-candidate race

Ivette Pantoja and Karim Delgado are vying for the seat held by Councilor Kipperlyn Sinclair, who is not seeking reelection.

Pantoja, a Hillsboro School District board member and co-founder of Briar Rose School, has raised $21,534, the second-highest total among all nine candidates. She is endorsed by Mayor Pace, Council President Rob Harris and the Washington County Chamber of Commerce.

Delgado, a Marine veteran who owns a Beaverton bar, has raised $15,735. He is endorsed by SEIU Oregon, Metro President Juan Carlos González and Councilors Sinclair and Olivia Alcaire.

Ward 3: three candidates for an open seat

Titonian Wallace, Dorian Russell and Kimberly Culbertson are running for the seat held by term-limited Councilor Alcaire.

Wallace, a small-business owner and the first Black chair of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, leads all nine candidates in fundraising at $24,546. He is endorsed by Mayor Pace, Council President Harris and police and firefighter groups.

Russell, executive director of HomePlate Youth Services, a nonprofit serving young people experiencing homelessness, has raised $9,529. Russell said they sought services from the organization while in high school. Culbertson, who ran unsuccessfully for the Washington County Board in May, did not respond to an OregonLive questionnaire and does not appear in the Voters' Pamphlet, OregonLive reported.

The Hillsboro Herald reported, citing state campaign finance filings, that the Washington County Chamber PAC contributed $7,500 each to Garcia, Pantoja and Wallace in August and September.

Ballots must be returned by Election Day.