PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland’s skyline and its iconic White Stag sign are featured in a new political ad from California Gov. Gavin Newsom, part of a campaign supporting Proposition 50, a California ballot measure aimed at redrawing congressional district maps to counter what Democrats call partisan gerrymandering in Republican-led states.
The ad, titled “Save Democracy,” was released earlier this week across Newsom’s social media platforms and has quickly gained national attention. It urges voters to approve Proposition 50, which would give California’s legislature greater flexibility to create Democrat-leaning districts—a direct response, campaign officials say, to Texas lawmakers’ recent moves to strengthen Republican control through redistricting.
Portland’s Role in the Ad
While the 60-second spot focuses on California politics, it briefly turns its lens to Oregon. As audio from a White House press conference plays, a quick shot of Portland’s White Stag sign appears on screen, symbolizing what the ad frames as the broader national struggle over democracy and local governance.
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“You guys are framing this like the president wants to take over American cities with the military,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt can be heard saying, as the Portland footage flashes by.
The moment cuts to a clip of President Donald Trump, who says: “We’re dealing with the enemy from within… our cities are training grounds for our military.”
The juxtaposition of the two clips — paired with the Portland imagery — ties the ad’s message to the ongoing tension between the federal government and major U.S. cities during recent deployments of federal officers to protest zones.
Linking National Politics and Local Symbols
Portland’s inclusion serves as a visual reminder of the city’s fraught history with federal intervention. During Trump’s previous term, Portland became a national symbol of resistance after federal agents were sent to quell demonstrations near the downtown ICE facility and federal courthouse.
The ad’s creators appear to have used that legacy to illustrate what they call “authoritarian overreach” — positioning California’s Prop 50 as a pushback against the same forces.
Campaign advisors for Newsom said the inclusion of Portland was deliberate, describing it as “a city that has stood up for democratic freedoms and civic engagement in the face of federal overreach.”
Broader Context: Cities in the Crosshairs
Portland is not the only city referenced in the ad’s narrative. The footage also references Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Chicago — all cities where federal forces have been deployed or where National Guard troops were proposed in recent years.
The ad argues that the same political ideology behind those interventions is also driving efforts to reshape congressional maps in several states.
“California can’t sit back while other states redraw lines to silence voters,” Newsom says in a voiceover at the end of the ad. “We have to defend democracy — and that starts with fair representation.”
Reactions to the Ad
Critics have accused Newsom of politicizing national issues to influence a state-level measure, while supporters say the ad underscores how deeply intertwined local and national politics have become.
Portland residents who saw the ad on social media noted the bittersweet nature of the city’s cameo. “It’s strange seeing our city used as a symbol in California’s fight,” said one Portland voter. “But it’s not wrong — we’ve lived through what that kind of federal control looks like.”
A Symbol Beyond Oregon
The inclusion of Portland’s White Stag sign — once a festive city landmark — now carries deeper national meaning. To some, it symbolizes resilience and protest; to others, unrest and political division.
Whatever one’s interpretation, the city’s brief appearance in Newsom’s “Save Democracy” ad is a reminder that Portland’s political story continues to echo far beyond Oregon’s borders.
