Leading Portland’s First Coordinated Business Advocacy PAC

HBA: Home Building Association of Greater Portland

Category: Government Affairs

Location: Lake Oswego, Ore.

Size: 601+ members

Year: 2024

In 2024, the Home Building Association of Greater Portland was a founding member of the United for Portland (U4P) coalition, the city’s first-ever coordinated business advocacy PAC. This coalition was created to navigate Portland’s historic transition to a new Mayor-Council government structure with a 12-member City Council and ranked-choice voting. U4P’s mission was to unify the business community, particularly the residential construction sector, to influence the election of pragmatic, solution-oriented candidates who prioritized addressing critical issues like housing affordability, public safety and government reform.

The HBA led efforts to engage candidates through educational sessions and questionnaires, vetting 98 council candidates and supporting 25 “greenlit” candidates, six of whom won council seats, while also influencing mayoral outcomes. Key partners included the Portland Metro Association of Realtors, Portland Metro Chamber, Oregon Smart Growth, NW Natural and Sports Oregon. Under the leadership of an executive director Doug Moore, former congressional chief of staff, U4P effectively coordinated candidate support without needing excessive campaign funds due to city contribution limits. The coalition’s collaborative, sustainable approach helped shape Portland’s new City Council with leaders focused on business-friendly policies and reforms, ensuring the residential construction industry’s interests are represented in permitting, taxes and housing development policies.