In a surprising turn of events, Multnomah County voters have chosen not to re-elect District Attorney Mike Schmidt for a second term. Instead, they have shown their support for Nathan Vasquez, one of Schmidt's own deputy district attorneys, with Vasquez holding a lead of 56% of the vote, while Schmidt trails behind with 44% in unofficial vote returns.

The Associated Press estimates that about 63% of the votes have been counted so far, reflecting a significant portion of the electorate's desire for change. Schmidt's tenure as district attorney has coincided with a series of challenges for Multnomah County, including homelessness, open drug use on the streets, and a rise in gun violence. Critics argue that these ongoing issues have left Schmidt vulnerable to defeat and have turned this election into a referendum on his progressive approach to prosecuting crime.

Around 10:45 p.m., Nathan Vasquez, who boasts over 20 years of experience as a prosecutor in the county, addressed his supporters to great cheers and applause. Despite refraining from declaring outright victory, Vasquez expressed confidence that he would prevail and become Multnomah County's next district attorney.

Vasquez outlined his campaign promises, vowing to tackle open-air drug use and drug dealing, connect individuals to treatment, and promote a safer and healthier community. He stressed that his number one priority would always be putting victims first while holding people accountable in a compassionate manner.

Schmidt initially entered office with strong support, defeating Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Knight in the 2020 May primary with over 75% of the vote. However, his tenure coincided with a tumultuous period marked by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the extensive racial-justice protests that engulfed Portland for over 100 nights during the summer. Schmidt faced criticism when he announced his decision not to prosecute low-level crimes committed by protesters, with detractors arguing that his leniency gave individuals a free pass. Schmidt, on the other hand, maintained that he was not condoning unlawful behavior.

Political analyst Jim Moore from KATU believes that the support for Vasquez can be attributed to voter frustration with the county's current trajectory. Moore explains that while some desire reform, a larger group seeks change and stronger crime prevention techniques.

As the evening wore on, it became increasingly apparent that Vasquez held a significant advantage over Schmidt. Moore noted the establishment of a voting pattern favoring Vasquez, confidently predicting the latter's victory.

Despite the unfavorable results, Schmidt remained resilient and did not concede the race during his speech to supporters after 9 p.m. He expressed gratitude for the support received thus far and emphasized the ongoing count of results, indicating that he was closely monitoring the situation.

According to the rules of this election, the candidate who secures more than 50% of the vote will emerge as the winner. With Vasquez consistently leading in the vote count, it appears that a new district attorney is poised to take the reins in Multnomah County, ushering in potential changes with the hope of addressing the pressing issues that have plagued the community.