Bruce Broussard

Early life and career Broussard grew up in Louisiana and went to school in Houston, Texas. He attended Texas Southern University and Portland State University.

In 1960, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Following a tour of duty in Vietnam, Broussard was stationed in Portland to work as a recruiter. He served a total of 10 years in the Marines and 3 in the Oregon Army National Guard. After being discharged from the military, he remained in Portland and became active in local organizations, including the Urban League of Portland, the NAACP, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Broussard ran for United States Senate in 2004. He placed second in the Republican primary, receiving 22 percent of the vote, but lost to rancher Al King, who in turn went on to lose the general election to Democrat Ron Wyden. He received the endorsement of former Governor Vic Atiyeh, whom Broussard lost his 1982 gubernatorial bid to.

After Multnomah County began to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2004, Broussard filed a lawsuit aiming to stop the issuing; it was dismissed. By 2026, Broussard had reversed his position and claimed not to have remembered the 2004 lawsuit.

Broussard ran for Metro Council President in 2026, placing fourth out of five candidates and losing to Juan Carlos González. When asked by The Oregonian about his priorities if elected, he said, ”I don’t know 100%.”

Party affiliations and endorsements In 2016, Broussard, a longtime Republican, switched to the Libertarian Party, saying, "Over the years, and especially during this election, it has become clear that we need a strong and effective third party to represent the American people. I will continue to work with my Republican and Democrat friends where I can, but I look forward to bringing a fiscal conservative and socially liberal voice to Multnomah County politics." He also endorsed Gary Johnson's presidential campaign. The restaurant closed in 2017. He is fluent in Louisiana Creole and plays the washboard in a Creole band.