Nafisa Fai, a Washington County commissioner since 2021, is running for the county's at-large commission seat in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election.
Fai faces Pam Treece in the nonpartisan race. On her campaign website, Fai said she is running to expand affordable housing, improve transportation options and strengthen budget transparency across the county.
Candidate information
- Office sought: Washington County Commission, At Large
- Party: Nonpartisan
- Residence: Aloha, Oregon
- Education: Portland State University
- Current role: Washington County commissioner, District 1 (2021–present)
- Business: President, Gaston Sales Inc. (2017–present)
- Endorsements: Oregon Working Families Party, The Mother PAC, Washington County Democrats, Oregon League of Conservation Voters
According to the Washington County Board of Commissioners website, Fai is a refugee from Somalia who has lived in Oregon for approximately 30 years. She made history in 2020 as the first Black and first Muslim commissioner elected to the Washington County Board. Through her Beaverton-based small business, she founded the Pan African Festival.
Experience and public service
Before joining the commission, Fai held several public health positions. She served as a chronic disease prevention program manager at Upstream Public Health from 2014 to 2017, according to her BallotReady profile. She also worked as a program coordinator and consultant at the Multnomah County Health Department from 2010 to 2014 and as a laboratory technician II at the American Red Cross from 2003 to 2011.
On the issues
Housing: Fai said she would increase housing supply by streamlining permitting and allowing more diverse housing types. She said she would expand workforce housing so essential workers can live where they work and invest in energy efficiency and utility assistance to lower monthly bills. "When housing is stable and within reach, everything else, health, safety, employment, and dignity become possible," Fai said on her campaign website.
Transportation: Fai said she supports investing in safer roads and sidewalks, fixing bottlenecks, expanding bus routes and centering housing and employment opportunities around transit lines. She said the transportation system should work for everyone, not only those who own a car.
Budget and taxes: Fai said she would strengthen oversight, improve public access to budget information and make decision-making more open. She said she would explore updating service fees and considering local option levies for critical services like public safety and libraries.
Public safety: Fai said law enforcement officers are often sent to situations better handled by mental health, addiction or trauma experts. She called for the county to invest in community safety teams composed of trained mental health professionals, medics and peer responders.
Economy: Fai said she would support small business growth by speeding up permits, simplifying regulations and expanding workforce training programs. She said she would focus on equity-centered programs that stimulate economic growth, including creating good-paying, green jobs.
Responses are based on public data and answers to a Surround Sound Media questionnaire if they were provided.
