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This years protests in Portland and Bend, Ore., have many wondering how the Beaver States increasingly radicalized left will cope if President Trump is re-elected. After the 2016 election, a group of Oregonians submitted a petition for a ballot measure asking voters to consider secession. It went nowhere, but this year could be different. A 2017 Zogby poll concluded that a plurality of Americans (39%) believe states have a right to secede, so perhaps the idea isnt far-fetched.

Rioters in Portland laid siege to the citys federal courthouse for more than two months this summer. Mayor Ted Wheeler, who failed to control the chaos, is facing a serious re-election challenge from Sarah Iannarone, an avowed antifa supporter, who has outraised him and could win the nonpartisan contest.

But Portland isnt the only place in Oregon that seems to be drifting further from what passes for normal in the U.S. Consider the hysterical reaction of locals and election officials in Bend when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents attempted to take two illegal aliens into custody in August. Hundreds of protesters blocked ICE buses, and a 12-hour standoff ensued before agents could remove the men.

Bends political establishment defended the protesters. Ive never been so disgusted by my government and so proud of my community, tweeted John Hummel, Deschutes Countys district attorney. Bends Mayor Sally Russell added: In no way do I support ICE. Nor can our Bend Police Force, because Oregon is a sanctuary state and it is illegal. ...ICE is a Federal agency and frustratingly we have no power over the Executive Branch of our country.

ICE hasnt detailed the charges against Marco Zeferino and Josue Cruz-Sanchez, whose detentions triggered the standoff, other than to say they have violent criminal records and re-entered the U.S. unlawfully after prior apprehensions. But both men have arrest records reported by local media. Mr. Cruz-Sanchez pleaded guilty in 2018 to fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) and felony coercion for injuring and threatening his partner. In February 2019 he was arrested for burglary and a parole violation and pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal trespassing. Three months later, he pleaded not guilty to fourth-degree assault charges related to a separate incident.

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If Trump Is Re-Elected, Oregon Could Be Headed for a Crackup - The Wall Street Journal