Mike Schmidt, the leftist prosecutor in Portland, Ore., is seeking re-election to serve four more years as head of the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.
In an interview with local media last October, he gave himself an “A” grade for his performance.
However, if the past four years of record homicides, decriminalized antifa rioting, and surging street overdoses are considered Schmidt’s best, Portland may not survive another four years with him in charge.
Schmidt is being challenged for re-election by Nathan Vasquez, a senior deputy district attorney and moderate candidate who promises to prosecute crimes and repair the office’s relationship with the police, which was damaged by Schmidt’s anti-police stance.
Law and order
Vasquez’s law-and-order message is resonating with Portland voters, even in the left-leaning city where residents have grown tired of crime and drug abuse following the events of 2020.
The effects of that tumultuous period are still visible today, with a decline in the city’s population due to outward migration.
From 2020 to 2022, Portland lost approximately 18,200 residents, representing a 2.8% decrease in population.
The city, especially downtown, has seen businesses leave after facing challenges from the pandemic, nightly riots, and violent homeless encampments.
Residents are calling for change.
Polls show Vasquez leading Schmidt by nearly 20 percentage points.
Fearing a significant defeat in the election and jeopardizing his future political ambitions, Schmidt is attempting to rebrand himself as a tough-on-crime “Democrat” prosecutor.
However, Schmidt’s legacy of bloodshed and turmoil cannot be overlooked.
He won by a landslide in 2020, campaigning as a progressive prosecutor and is now facing the consequences of his lenient policies.
Heavy consequences
Since taking office in 2020, Schmidt’s policies have had devastating effects, especially during the Black Lives Matter-antifa riots.
He decriminalized most riot-related offenses, leading to increased violence and lawlessness.
Antifa violence escalated, with rioters feeling emboldened to commit crimes without consequences.
Portland saw a surge in homicides and nonfatal shootings, along with a rise in drug-related issues.
Schmidt’s leniency towards antifa rioters and support for decriminalizing hard drugs like fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin have had severe repercussions.
Businesses have closed, residents have fled the city, and drug-related deaths have increased significantly.
His handling of the riots and drug issues has left a trail of chaos and despair in Portland.
The sobering reality
Portland broke homicide records in consecutive years under Schmidt’s leadership, with a sharp increase in violent crime.
Nonfatal shootings tripled, businesses closed, and public safety concerns grew.
Schmidt’s scandals, including his leniency towards criminals and lack of objection to clemency requests, may have long-lasting repercussions.
Voters in Multnomah County have the opportunity to reject Schmidt in the upcoming election, signaling a shift away from his dangerous political agenda.
Repudiating Schmidt means rejecting the policies that have caused harm and suffering in Portland.
Andy Ngo is a senior editor at The Post Millennial and author of The New York Times bestseller “Unmasked: Inside Antifa’s Radical Plan to Destroy Democracy.”
