I've never been to Portland, Oregon but it seems like quite a, shall we say... unique place...
There's no shortage of examples of the city being out there, just watch an episode of Portlandia, but this most recent one that I just came across really threw my head for a loop.
Apparently there's a mayor race this year in Portland and there's a few contenders who have a shot to win, but one candidate in particular is making waves online thanks to their work background before trying to step into the public service sphere (though on second thought maybe she's been servicing the public all along).
According to her Instagram bio, Liv Osthus, AKA "Viva Las Vegas," is an artist, musician, writer, mom, muse, and, most importantly, stripper.
That's right, a candidate for the highest office in a notable American city is a pole dancer. Or is it "poll dancer" once you step into politics?
https://www.instagram.com/p/C77T09VPHt_/?hl=en
And before you throw this story away by saying "Well, anyone can run for mayor if they just say online that they're running as a write-in", which is true, know that she is listed on the ballot and has received enough small dollar donations to qualify for public funding through the city's Small Donor Elections program.
Viva Las Vegas also had enough support in the polls to be invited on the debate stage a few times, where she laid out her plan for revitalizing the decaying downtown area, including letting artists take over vacant buildings and having the city pay for windows when (not if) they get smashed:
https://twitter.com/LasVegasLocally/status/1849264262734303321
I think the phrase "What the heck is happening in Portland?" has been said many times before but I'll say it again because this is wild.
Granted, Portland is known as the strip club capital of America, with one club for every 11,826 residents, so I guess you can say she came from the local industry, but I don't know, if this really who you want running your city? It would be the most Portland thing ever for this to happen so hey, more power to you girl.
American politics continues to get weirder and weirder.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBPRainABex/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
