Incumbent Oregon District Attorneys Fend Off Well-Funded Progressive Challengers

[claireokc]

Of the only two contested district attorney races in Oregon, both incumbents won reelections against progressive challengers backed by a wealthy Portland donor. In Washington County, the second populous of Oregon, district attorney Kevin Barton defeated Brian Decker in the nonpartisan race held on May 17. Decker, a public defender, ran on a progressive platform to decrease the jail population and direct more people to treatment programs. He said on the campaign trail that lockup measures cause people to lose housing, adding fuel to the homeless crisis—the top issue in the county. In contrast, Barton, the one-term incumbent, said the county’s top issue is public safety. He supports expanding the overcrowded county jail and prosecuting drug possession cases through drug courts....

Source: https://www.theepochtimes.com/incumbent ... 80615.html