In Multnomah County, Oregon, the district attorney's race is heating up as a challenger promises to take a tough stance on crime against the progressive incumbent. The current district attorney, who assumed office during the social justice movements of 2020, is facing pressure amid concerns over public drug use and disorder.
The incumbent, District Attorney Mike Schmidt, came into office during a period of heightened activism following the death of George Floyd. Schmidt's approach has been aligned with progressive values, focusing on alternatives to imprisonment and declining to prosecute low-level crimes to address social inequities in the criminal justice system.
