Lamar Wise

Lamar Wise is an American organizer and politician from Portland serving as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 48th district. He was appointed to succeed the late Rep. Hòa Nguyễn on November 5, 2026.

Career

Wise served as the legislative director and executive director of the Oregon Student Association before moving on to become the political director at AFSCME Oregon Council 75. He has also served on the Higher Education Coordinating Commission and the City of Portland's Independent District Commission, which drew the maps for Portland's 2024 City Council election.

Politics

Wise previously sought appointment to the Oregon State Senate in District 15 based in Hillsboro upon the retirement of Sen. Chuck Riley in 2021, losing out to then-Rep. Janeen Sollman by a 4-1 vote of the Washington County Commission. He then sought appointment to the vacant seat in House District 30, but was defeated by Nathan Sosa.
Wise announced his intent to seek appointment to the State House in House District 48 on October 22, 2025. He won appointment to the seat against José Gamero-Georgeson, member of the David Douglas School Board, and Terrence Hayes, former candidate for Portland City Council in District 1 and small business owner, in a vote of the Multnomah and Clackamas County Commissions. Wise won the vote of 4 out of the 5 Multnomah County commissioners, whose votes were weighted more heavily due to the district's population distribution.