Sameer Kanal
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Sameer Kanal | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Portland City Council from District 2 | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | office established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Clark College (AA) University of Washington (BA) New York University (MS) |
Sameer Kanal is an American politician who is currently member of the Portland City Council from District 2 after being elected along with Dan Ryan and Elana Pirtle-Guiney in the 2024 election.[1][2] Kanal is one of the twelve inaugural members of Portland's new expanded city council after switching from a city commission government to a mayor–council government.[3] He is the first Asian American (along with fellow council member-elect Tiffany Koyama Lane) and first South Asian American to serve on Portland City Council.[4]
Kanal was born in Portland, Oregon at the Bess Kaiser Hospital that is now part of the Adidas America headquarters.[5] He grew up in the Overlook neighborhood. His parents immigrated from India. His father was a Telecom Industry Economist, and subsequently a small business owner, and his mother worked for the State of Oregon helping new refugees.[6]
Kanal attended Clark College and received his Associate's degree in international relations and political science. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and economics from the University of Washington before getting his Master of Science degree in global affairs from New York University.[7][8]
Career
On May 28, 2024, Kanal announced his intention to run for a seat on the newly expanded city council in the 2024 election.[9]
Kanal, along with Dan Ryan and Elana Pirtle-Guiney, won the race to represent District 2, which covers North and most of Northeast Portland.[2]
He, along with fellow council members Tiffany Koyama Lane and Angelita Morillo of District 3 and Mitch Green of District 4 and are members of the Democratic Socialists of America.[10]
