Last week, Donald Trump deployed troops into Portland, allowing National Guard members to patrol the streets, armed with semiautomatic weapons and “full force authorization.”
Now, Seattle leaders are warning: Washington could be next.
There is no crisis that justifies military vehicles or troops in our neighborhoods; There is no reason to deploy the National Guard against our own citizens; And there is no excuse for turning American cities into political battlegrounds.
What Oregon and Washington truly need are lower healthcare costs, affordable groceries, more teachers in classrooms, more counselors addressing addiction and mental health, and affordable housing. Federal resources should be directed toward building strong and safe communities, not toward escalating fear and division.
We need to send an unequivocal message that Washington and Oregon are not backing down. In fact, we’re building the strongest grassroots defense possible, not just to fight this latest power grab, but to elect Democratic leaders up and down the ballot who will defend our people, our laws, and our shared values. Can we count on you to split a donation between Washington Democrats and the Democratic Party of Oregon now?
The Trump administration is using American troops to target Democratic-led cities in an effort to intimidate and silence dissent. His son even bragged that the federal government should “take over law enforcement” in “craphole cities” like Portland and Seattle…
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said it best: “There is not an insurrection here. Stay out of Seattle.”
This is not just about Portland or Seattle; this is about the future of democracy in the Pacific Northwest. If we don’t stand up now, if we don’t push back hard, Trump’s authoritarian playbook will keep spreading.
We can’t let our neighbors in Oregon stand alone. And we won’t let Seattle be next.
In solidarity,
Washington State Democrats
In 2024, Washington Democrats led the nation with sweeping electoral victories. Now, we’re fighting to elect a supermajority in Olympia, protect our swing seats in the House, and stand up to MAGA extremism across the country.
WA Dems empowers grassroots organizing and elects Democrats up and down the ballot. Your support fuels our fight to stop Trump and defend our democracy.
Washington State Democrats
PO Box 4027
Seattle, WA 98194
United States