Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler wins reelection, beating pro-Antifa challenger



Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has won a second term leading the city that has been ravaged for months by far-left rioters, fending off a challenge from pro-Antifa rival Sarah Iannarone.

What are the details?

KGW-TV reported that Wheeler secured 46% of the vote against Iannarone's 41%, while 13% of Portlanders wrote in a candidate.

""I want to thank the voters of Portland for the opportunity to continue serving as your mayor," Wheeler told the local station following his victory Tuesday night. "This has not been an easy year for many of us. I know many of you are frustrated with the direction of our city as we address the challenges of a pandemic, an economic recession and protests that have inspired both overdue change and unacceptable violence."

According to the New York Post, leading up to the election, Wheeler "had appeared politically vulnerable because of the anti-police protests that have plagued his city."

Less than a month ago, polling indicated that Wheeler was trailing Iannarone by 11 points among likely voters.

Iannarone has boasted publicly of holding allegiance to Antifa. Last year, she tweeted, "To those who say Antifa are violent thugs: I am not a violent thug and I am Antifa. I am Antifa because the Red Hats are coming after brown & black people, after Jews, after queer & trans people, and more. They are coming after our democracy."

Although Wheeler has blamed "white supremist [sic] organizations" for the violence that has plagued his city rather than far-left activists, the mayor's campaign dug up evidence to show voters that Iannarone was far too radical even to lead the progressive bastion of Portland.

Last week, after the race had narrowed to neck-and-neck, the Wheeler camp called out Iannarone for tweeting a picture of a ballot in 2016 that she caption as "quite possibly by favorite 'I voted this way' photo to date." The ballot contained write-in votes for Joseph Stalin, Moa Zedong, Fidel Castro, and other murderous communist dictators.

Quite possibly my favorite "I voted this way" photo to date (tho I 😍 them all) #pdxmayor #forcetherunoff https://t.co/1lEFSWf15y
— sarah iannarone (she/her) (@sarah iannarone (she/her))1462164264.0

Iannarone campaign manager Gregory McKelvey told KOIN-TV that the ballot was not Iannarone's, but that she "posted the ballots of many of her supporters who sent them in after voting for her."

Wheeler campaign manager Danny O'Halloran said it does not matter whether the ballot was Iannorane's or not.

"No one who saw that tweet would have any way of thinking that (it wasn't her ballot)," O'Halloran told KOIN. "But more importantly it doesn't really matter. On that ballot is a vote for Sarah Iannarone and everyone else written in was a Communist dictator. And her choosing to post that is just as inflammatory and mocks our democratic institutions in just the same way."

Bernie Sanders endorses far-left Portland mayor candidate who openly embraces communist authoritarians



Far-left Portland mayoral candidate Sarah Iannarone, who has described herself as an "everyday anti-fascist" and declared, "I am Antifa," has received a huge endorsement on Thursday from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Iannarone was excited to get the support from the self-avowed socialist.

Iannarone, who has embraced the label as the "Antifa mayor," shared Sanders' endorsement on her campaign website.

In every corner of the country, strong progressives are running at the state and local level to represent our movement and lead the fight to transform this country. These races are incredibly important — that's why I am endorsing progressive, down-ballot candidates across the country. If you can, I hope you'll cast your ballot for them when you vote.

Iannarone responded by saying, "Thank you, Senator Sanders. Bernie sees a progressive running to challenge the status quo, and he wants to help."

"I am proud to receive his endorsement," she continued. "I'm excited to work on behalf of the 99% to hold big corporations accountable and to fight for health care for all Portlanders and everyone across the country."

The ultra-progressive Iannarone is taking on incumbent Portland Democratic Mayor Ted Wheeler, who has been the mayor since 2017. A poll released earlier this month found that the race is extremely tight with Iannarone at 34% and Wheeler at 33%.

In 2016, Iannarone tweeted a photo of another person's ballot with dictators such as Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Lenin Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Lenin, and Ho Chi Minh as write-ins.

"Quite possibly my favorite 'I voted this way' photo to date," she tweeted, adding that she "hearts" all of the despots.

Iannarone openly advertises that she admires communist authoritarians. She was seen wearing a skirt with the faces of Che Guevera, Joseph Stalin, and Chairman Mao printed on it.

Look at the skirt. https://t.co/kAu3a3PgUF
— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô)1601937891.0

Earlier this month, Iannarone praised Joe Biden for saying that Antifa is an "idea." During a debate against Wheeler, the Portland mayoral candidate was asked about how she would handle protests in the city, which she responded, "I love that Joe Biden answered this question before me, because being opposed to fascism in 2020 is not something to be embarrassed about."

"I have a bumper sticker from the beginning of my campaign that says #EverydayAntifascist," Iannarone proclaimed. "And what I have tried to do is normalize peaceful responses to the rise of white nationalism by organizing in my community."

A new report was published this week that found America's youth is increasingly embracing communism, socialism, and Marxism. Millennials and members of Gen Z were far more likely to adopt communism and collectivism. Many were in favor of eliminating capitalism completely to make way for socialism.

Portland's Antifa mayoral candidate tweeted in praise of ballot with Stalin, Lenin, and Castro as write-in votes

With under a week to go for the Portland mayoral race, it's been revealed that the Antifa candidate challenging Mayor Ted Wheeler once tweeted in support of a 2016 primary ballot that voted for historical communist dictators among other extremists as write-ins.

Portland's pro-Antifa mayoral candidate in 2016 tweeted image of ballot with 'violent despots' like Stalin, Lenin, Ho Chi Minh as write-ins



Portland's pro-Antifa mayoral candidate, Sarah Iannarone, is being questioned about a tweet she posted in 2016 that included an image of a ballot with figures such as Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Lenin, and Ho Chi Minh as write-ins, KOIN-TV reported.

What are the details?

Last week, Mayor Ted Wheeler's campaign released a statement objecting to Iannarone "writing in violent despots like Ho Chi Minh and Joseph Stalin on her 2016 ballot," the station said.

But Iannarone's campaign manager Gregory McKelvey told KOIN that the image in question doesn't depict her ballot. Rather, he told the station, Iannarone "posted the ballots of many of her supporters who sent them in after voting for her" and that she "shared a picture of someone else's ballot celebrating Black women like Angela Davis and Assata Shakur."

The tweet of the 2016 primary campaign ballot also includes write-in votes for Mao Zedong, Che Guevara, Fidel Castro, Vladimir Lenin, and others, KOIN said.

Indeed a number of the individuals on the ballot image were responsible for the deaths of millions of people. In addition, the station added:

Angela Davis is an activist who was acquitted of kidnapping, murder and conspiracy charges in the 1970s, then ran as Vice President on the Communist Party ticket and later became a professor at the University of California Santa Cruz. Assata Shakur is a convicted killer of a New Jersey state trooper who later escaped from prison and was added to the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list.

Wheeler campaign manager Danny O'Halloran said, essentially, it really doesn't matter if that's her ballot.

"No one who saw that tweet would have any way of thinking that [it wasn't her ballot]," O'Halloran told KOIN. "But more importantly it doesn't really matter. On that ballot is a vote for Sarah Iannarone, and everyone else written in was a Communist dictator. And her choosing to post that is just as inflammatory and mocks our democratic institutions in just the same way."

He added to the station that her tweet "fits a pattern of constant inciteful rhetoric by Sarah Iannarone and her campaign. She has repeatedly said she is affiliated with Antifa, she has chosen to wear items of clothing with Mao Zedong's face on it, she posted this tweet of a ballot with Communist dictators names — seeming to praise it — and she has been asked in interviews to condemn violent protest and has refused to, going as far as to say in an interview that peaceful protest might not be going far enough."

KOIN said McKelvey declined the station's request for an on-camera interview with him or Iannarone but that he did issue a statement:

"Ted Wheeler is using the same tactics as Donald Trump to scare and confuse voters. The claim is simply a lie. Trump and Wheeler paint progressive women as too radical because they believe misogyny and misrepresentations can still win elections. They are tired tricks from a time that our city and nation are eager to move past. In 2016 Sarah shared a picture of someone else's ballot celebrating Black women like Angela Davis and Assata Shakur. Wheeler's campaign is increasingly desperate to paint Sarah as a radical because his ideas are straight out of the McCarthy era – degradation of the climate, housing segregation, police brutality, and Red Scares. Portland deserves a conversation surrounding our housing crisis and economic recovery, not the daily distortions, alt-right attacks, and Red Scares of Wheeler's desperate reelection campaign. We expect voters to reject Donald Trump and Wheeler's shared tactic on election day."

Anything else?

Earlier this month, a poll of likely Portland mayoral voters indicated Iannarone had an 11-point lead over Wheeler, the incumbent candidate. But O'Halloran told KOIN the most recent polls show the race is "effectively tied" and a large number of undecided voters are still out there.

Far-left Portland mayoral candidate praises Joe Biden for saying, 'Antifa is an idea'



Far-left Portland mayoral candidate Sarah Iannarone praised Joe Biden for his comment about Antifa from the first presidential debate, where he said, "Antifa's an idea, not an organization." This comes at a time when Iannarone leads incumbent Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler (D) by double digits.

The eye-opening statement was made during Thursday night's debate between the candidates running for Portland mayor. KGW-TV anchor and debate moderator Laural Porter asked Iannarone, "You've been called the 'Antifa Mayor.' Are you Antifa and how would that guide how you would handle protests as mayor?"

Iannarone responded, "I love that Joe Biden answered this question before me, because being opposed to fascism in 2020 is not something to be embarrassed about."

"I have a bumper sticker from the beginning of my campaign that says #EverydayAntifascist," Iannarone said. "And what I have tried to do is normalize peaceful responses to the rise of white nationalism by organizing in my community."

"This summer when the Proud Boys came to town, I organized a menstrual product drive for my neighbors residing in the women's center," the Portland mayoral candidate answered. "Because the answer toxic masculinity is an inclusive, pluralist society where people of all backgrounds feel welcome."

When she is asked if she is "Antifa," Iannarone replied, "Antifa is not anything more than an idea, that's what vice president Biden explained to us. It's people who oppose anti-fascism. And I strongly oppose anti-fascism and I adopt and implement peaceful responses to that. And that is how I describe my position on this issue."

"Donald Trump has decided to make the enemy of groups of people who oppose his bullies and his militia forces," she continued. "But I'm not going to be caught up in that rhetoric because it's false. It creates division in our society. It creates division in our city. What we need is every single Portlander faced in the right direction, saying 'Hate is not welcome here.'"

Leading contender in Portland mayor race asked, “Are you Antifa?” Look how she answers. (Spoiler: YES) https://t.co/YMDxbiAFLA
— David Reaboi (@David Reaboi)1602215454.0

Last year, Iannarone declared, "I am antifa. I stand proudly beside the good people of this city organizing in countless ways every day to oppose hate in its myriad forms."

There is no shortage of footage from Portland of rioters, who appear to be Antifa supporters, causing massive damage to the city and businesses.

@MarySueSays @ozzie4pdxmayor I am antifa.I stand proudly beside the good people of this city organizing in countl… https://t.co/CFejYFz8Pr
— sarah iannarone (she/her) (@sarah iannarone (she/her))1569557779.0

During the debate, a Portland resident asked Iannarone what she would do about the "dangerous and violent" riots and if she would stop the city from being burned down night-after-night.

Iannarone skirted the question about rioters, and instead said she would hold the police accountable.

"We need equal enforcement of the law regardless of who is engaging in criminal activity," the candidate stated. "And as Portland mayor, I will not be able to control what any individual protester is doing in the streets. My job will be making sure that the police do their jobs, making sure they are held accountable for when they break procedure and even the law. That will be my job as Portland mayor, and ultimately, we'll have a police force that's well equipped to enforce the law without racial bias in the future."

"I condemn violence in all forms," Iannarone added. "I always have. But we must know that the answer to protests about police brutality cannot be increased police brutality."

EVEN MORE INSANE: Portland guy asks a really good question about how to stop the Antifa/BLM violence, because citiz… https://t.co/UO6S7Zp2Lb
— David Reaboi (@David Reaboi)1602216596.0

Speaking of skirts, Iannarone owns a skirt with some communist authoritarians printed on it, including Che Guevera, Joseph Stalin, and Chairman Mao.

Look at the skirt. https://t.co/kAu3a3PgUF
— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô)1601937891.0

Iannarone gave the Washington Examiner an explanation for wearing the unusual skirt.

"The picture in question was taken with Reverend Billy, whose spectacle of the absurd is a treat whenever it comes to town," Iannarone said. "I dressed flamboyantly that day in a skirt that features pop art — art that is meant to satirize the subjects. While most Americans are focused on stopping COVID from taking our lives and jobs, some internet commentators are focused on how I dressed during a performance art appearance in 2016. I'm focused on winning a Green New Deal and Housing for All Portlanders, not on false controversy meant to distract from real issues."

According to a poll of likely voters, Iannarone holds a significant 11-point lead over current Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler. The polls released this week found Iannarone at 41%, Wheeler at 30%, and the remaining 29% split between writing in a candidate (16%) or remaining undecided (13%), according to Willamette Week. The poll has a 4% margin of error.

WATCH: Antifa mayoral candidate praises Joe Biden for saying Antifa is just an idea

The Antifa challenger running for Portland mayor regurgitated the Biden-coined phrase: "Antifa is not anything more than an idea."

Antifa Supporter Sarah Iannarone Leading In Portland Mayor Race, Poll Shows

'I am Antifa'

Portland's Antifa mayoral candidate leads Ted Wheeler by 11 points

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler trails by double-digits to Sarah Iannarone, according to a poll that surveyed likely voters on behalf of the Portland Business Alliance.