Centrist challenger ousts progressive prosecutor in DA race in Portland, Oregon

[brooklynite]

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Centrist district attorney candidate Nathan Vasquez has ousted the incumbent progressive prosecutor in Oregon’s Multnomah County, home to Portland, after running a campaign in which he vowed to be tough on crime.

One of District Attorney Mike Schmidt’s deputies, Vasquez was endorsed by several police groups. He won Tuesday’s nonpartisan primary election after returns showed him receiving more than 50% of the vote. While there was a write in option, Vasquez and Schmidt were the only two candidates in the race.

Vasquez said Schmidt conceded the election when they spoke on Wednesday afternoon. In a post on his campaign’s Facebook page, he thanked Schmidt for his service and said he was grateful for the support he received from voters.

Vasquez’s victory comes at a time when progressive DAs and candidates in liberal bastions ranging from the San Francisco Bay Area to Seattle have faced setbacks as frustrations over public safety and homelessness have risen.

https://apnews.com/article/portland-oregon-progressive-district-attorney-election-756eff76ca7391a18fd703417b788f94

[MissB]

1. Willamette Week did not endorse Schmidt

And Willamette Week tends toward the progressive.

Their endorsement can be found here although fair warning, they do some icky “who would play this politician in a movie” shtick. At any rate, it explains why Schmidt had zero chance in Portland and in Multnomah County, an area that has yet to vote down a tax measure. (Somewhat tongue in cheek, but we really do vote for pretty much every tax proposal that comes across our ballots).

In the end, it’s more about a failed DA rather than his progressive politics.