Schmidt was elected in
2020 with 77% of the vote, despite his opponent receiving the incumbent's endorsement. He 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 became known for his progressive policies. On May 24, 2023, senior deputy district attorney
Nathan Vasquez announced his intention to run in the 2024 election. He became known as the "
tough on crime" candidate, receiving endorsements from public safety unions and prominent businessmen. He also received the endorsements of most of Portland's major newspapers. In January 2024, Schmidt announced his intention to run for re-election. == Candidates ==