Neil Edward Goldschmidt (born June 16, 1940) is a former politician and businessman from the U.S. state of Oregon and a member of the Democratic Party. For over three decades, he held local, state, and federal offices, and also worked in the private sector. He was widely considered the most influential figure in Oregon politics, both in his capacity as an elected public official and as a private lobbyist and policy consultant, until he was revealed to have maintained a sexual relationship with young teenager when in his mid-30s.

Goldschmidt was elected to the Portland City Council in 1970, and then as mayor of Portland in 1972, becoming the youngest mayor of any major American city. He was known for promoting the revitalization of Downtown Portland, and for his influence on Portland-area transportation, specifically with the interruption of the Mount Hood Freeway and the establishment of the MAX Light Rail. He was appointed U.S. Secretary of Transportation by President Jimmy Carter in 1979; where he worked to revive the ailing auto industry, and to deregulate several industries. He served until the end of Carter's presidency in 1980, and then served as a senior executive with Nike for several years.

He was elected Governor of Oregon in 1986, and served one term in that office. He faced significant challenges: a rising anti-tax movement gained momentum in the state, ultimately passing the landmark Measure 5; and the state's prison system nearly doubled during his term, putting increasing demands on the state's budget. He continued to work across party lines reduce regulation and to repair the state's infrastructure, while Oregon came out of nearly eight years of recession during his term. His reforms to the State Accident Insurance Fund (SAIF), a state-chartered worker's compensation insurance company were heralded at the time, but drew strong criticism in later years.

Despite his popularity, Goldschmidt left office after only one term, becoming an influential and controversial lobbyist. He was criticized by editorial boards and Oregonians for several of the causes he supported, including backing Weyerhaeuser in its hostile takeover of Oregon's Willamette Industries and his advocacy for Texas Pacific Group in its attempt to take over Portland General Electric. Governor Ted Kulongoski appointed him to the Oregon Board of Higher Education in 2003, where he faced sharp criticism in his Senate hearings, notably for working as a consultant for SAIF. The hearings, and accompanying media scrutiny, ultimately led to the revelation of his lengthy and illegal sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl in the 1970s, and coverup efforts spanning three decades, sharply curtailing his influence on Oregon policy.