Progressive district attorney Mike Schmidt has lost his bid for reelection in Portland to one of his deputies who campaigned on being tougher on crime. This marks the third time in recent years that a major West Coast city has ousted its DA due to concerns about rising crime rates. Portland’s vote comes amidst ongoing unrest in the city following the murder of George Floyd and a surge in drug overdoses prompting a state of emergency declaration.
Although results in the nonpartisan election have not been officially certified, unofficial results show Nathan Vasquez ahead of Schmidt with 53.3% of the vote compared to 46.3%. Vasquez, a prosecutor in Multnomah County since 2001, emphasized public safety as a key component of his campaign platform. He highlighted the importance of taking lawless behavior seriously and enforcing laws to improve the overall feeling of safety and wellbeing in the community.
Vasquez stated that Portland’s progressive community is not abandoning its values with his election but is seeking a balance between public safety and progressive values. He believes that the community is ready for a different vision that prioritizes public safety while still upholding progressive values. He acknowledged that certain aspects had gone off track and expressed his commitment to delivering public safety in a professional manner that respects the community’s values.
Concerns about public safety have been a significant factor in recent prosecutor elections in West Coast cities. San Francisco voters recalled District Attorney Chesa Boudin in 2022 over concerns that his progressive policies were compromising public safety. Similarly, voters in Seattle elected a Republican city attorney in 2021 over a challenger who advocated for abolishing jails and police. In Los Angeles, District Attorney George Gascón has faced two recall efforts ahead of his upcoming election.
The shakeup in Portland’s district attorney race reflects a broader trend of public safety issues influencing prosecutor races across the West Coast. In response to a surge in overdoses, Oregon’s Democratic Governor signed legislation re-criminalizing the possession of certain drugs, reversing a previous state law that decriminalized the possession and use of all drugs. The election results suggest a shift towards prioritizing public safety while still embracing progressive values in West Coast cities like Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, and Los Angeles.
The defeat of progressive district attorney Mike Schmidt in Portland highlights the complexity of balancing public safety concerns with progressive values in West Coast cities. With concerns about rising crime rates, drug overdoses, and unrest following incidents of police violence, voters are seeking a new vision that emphasizes public safety while respecting progressive values. The election results signal a shift in priorities among voters and a growing emphasis on addressing public safety issues through law enforcement and enforcement of laws in communities across the West Coast.
