PORTLAND — Commissioner Sam Adams easily won the Portland mayoral race, making this city the largest in the U.S. to ever elect an openly gay mayor.

Adams avoided a November runoff by winning 58 percent of the vote with more than 80 percent of the ballots counted Tuesday night. Businessman Sho Dozono had 34 percent and almost a dozen minor candidates split the rest.

Adams, 44, said his main goals for the city are to improve the economy, reduce the dropout rate in public schools and prepare for the influx of people moving to the region.

The mayor-elect’s sexual orientation was never an issue in the contest, but Adams was aware of the history he was widely expected to make.

“I’m running not to be a gay mayor, but a great mayor,” he said.