Sixty-three percent of Portland voters view Mayor Ted Wheeler unfavorably, a new poll found.
The poll also found that 59% of voters felt that Portland was headed in the wrong direction, according to The Oregonian. Out of all issues facing Portland, homelessness was listed as “extremely important” more often than any other issue. City voters also expressed strong support for the Black Lives Matter movement – 76% of respondents viewed the movement favorably while 22% did not.
The vast majority – 92% – of respondents said that they support “non-violent protests,” while 67% said they were in favor of the current protests, which have included both violent and non-violent demonstrations.
Yes for Real Community Oversight of Police, a political action committee, paid for and commissioned the poll. FM3 Research, a California-based company, conducted the poll between August 25 and August 30. (RELATED: Riot Declared In Portland As 73rd Day Of Protests Results In Fire At Police Union Building)
The poll was conducted online and by phone with a margin of error of +/- 4.9 percentage points.
Seventy percent of people surveyed had not been to a protest since June, and nearly 70% of respondents said that they do not have a close friend or family member who works in law enforcement, according to The Oregonian.
As riots erupted across Portland in late August, President Donald Trump offered to send federal assistance to help law enforcement quell the unrest.
Another bad night of Rioting in Portland, Oregon. A small number of Federal troops there to protect courthouse and other Federal property only (great job!). Wanting to be asked by City & State to STOP THE RIOTS. Would bring in National Guard, end problem immediately. ASK!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2020
Mayor Ted Wheeler denied the request August 28, saying in a statement that the president has a “reckless disregard for human life.”
“We don’t need your politics of division and demagoguery. Portlanders are onto you,” Wheeler said in the statement. “We have already seen your reckless disregard for human life in your bumbling response to the COVID pandemic. And we know you’ve reached the conclusion that images of violence or vandalism are your only ticket to reelection.”