Washington Gov. Jay Inslee activated Washington National Guard members Friday, putting the guard on standby in the event that local and state law enforcement need reinforcements during election week.
Gov. Tina Kotek of Oregon did the same, and in Nevada, Gov. Joe Lombardo activated 60 members of the National Guard to be on standby in Las Vegas and Carson City.
Gov. Inslee gave the Adjutant General the authority to determine how many members of the Guard will be activated.
“This is a purely precautionary measure taken in response to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s nationwide warnings regarding threats to election infrastructure and other recent activities that have occurred in southwestern Washington,” his office said in a statement.
The Washington National Guard will be on standby for four days, beginning Monday, Nov. 4, ending just after midnight on Thursday, Nov. 7.
Read Inslee’s letter to Major General Gent Welsh activating the National Guard.
Oregon Gov. Kotek said she is “closely monitoring and coordinating with local, state and federal agencies to ensure Oregon voters can safely cast their ballot.”
In Portland, where the urban culture has devolved into widespread lawlessness with Antifa, anarchist, and socialist gangs that go on wildings during times of political change, police have been planning for protests, according to Mayor Ted Wheeler.
“We all deeply believe in our community’s right and ability to exercise free speech, and I believe the vast majority of Portlanders want to come together to do so peacefully,” said Wheeler. “While I am hopeful it will not be necessary, we are prepared to interdict criminal behavior if it does occur.”
A unified command team comprised of city, county, state, and federal partners has been working for months on extensive planning to ensure comprehensive preparedness for multiple scenarios and potential civil unrest, he said.
“We stand together today to demonstrate these commitments and ensure the community knows that we are united in our efforts and our expectations,” Mayor Wheeler said.
Police in Portland were told months ago they would have to cancel any planned time off during election week.
Last week ballot boxes were set on fire in Vancouver, Wash. and Portland, Ore.
