Even though the election is technically finalized on November 5, 2024, ORS 249.088 determines that this nonpartisan office can be won at the Primary Election if two or more candidates file for this office and one receives the majority of votes (more than 50%).[5] As the result, the election could be finalized on May 21, 2024 if one of the candidates gets more than 50% of the votes.
Incumbent District Attorney
Mike Schmidt was elected in
2020 with 77% of the vote, despite his opponent receiving the incumbents endorsement. Schmidt was appointed by governor
Kate Brown to start his term earlier than expected in order to replace
Rod Underhill, who retired in the middle of his term.
Schmidt, who has announced his intention to run for reelection, has been a controversial District Attorney. He is considered a
progressive, and famously refused to prosecute people who were arrested for participating in the
George Floyd protests that began in early May 2020 unless there was "deliberate property damage, theft, or threat of force." By August 11 of that year, the office only prosecuted 47 felonies out of 550 referred protest cases.[2]
Even though the election is technically finalized on November 5, 2024, ORS 249.088 determines that this nonpartisan office can be won at the Primary Election if two or more candidates file for this office and one receives the majority of votes (more than 50%).[5] As the result, the election could be finalized on May 21, 2024 if one of the candidates gets more than 50% of the votes.
Incumbent District Attorney
Mike Schmidt was elected in
2020 with 77% of the vote, despite his opponent receiving the incumbents endorsement. Schmidt was appointed by governor
Kate Brown to start his term earlier than expected in order to replace
Rod Underhill, who retired in the middle of his term.
Schmidt, who has announced his intention to run for reelection, has been a controversial District Attorney. He is considered a
progressive, and famously refused to prosecute people who were arrested for participating in the
George Floyd protests that began in early May 2020 unless there was "deliberate property damage, theft, or threat of force." By August 11 of that year, the office only prosecuted 47 felonies out of 550 referred protest cases.[2]