Changes

In October 2015, as Skarlatos and two of his friends were on a Thayls train from [[Brussels, Belgium|Brussels]] to [[Paris]], a terrorist stepped out of a bathroom armed with an [[AK-47]], box cutter, pistol, and gasoline jar.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/11819423/Revealed-The-mystery-man-who-tackled-AK-47-assault-rifle-from-train-gunman.html Revealed: The mystery man who tackled AK-47 assault rifle from train gunman]</ref><ref>[https://people.com/human-interest/u-s-servicemen-speak-out-after-foiling-terror-attack-on-european-train/ 'Wrong Place, Right People': U.S. Servicemen, Passengers Speak Out after Foiling Possible Terror Attack on European Train]</ref> A Frenchman and an American attempted to stop the armed terrorist, and the latter was shot. One of Skarlatos' friends was injured while attacking the gunman, and Skarlato himself managed to grab the rifle, attack the terrorist in the head with the nozzle while he was strangled to the point of unconsciousness by Skarlatos' injured friend. Skarlatos then performed a crucial treatment on the American who was shot, saving his life.

In October 2015, as Skarlatos and two of his friends were on a Thayls train from [[Brussels, Belgium|Brussels]] to [[Paris]], a terrorist stepped out of a bathroom armed with an [[AK-47]], box cutter, pistol, and gasoline jar.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/11819423/Revealed-The-mystery-man-who-tackled-AK-47-assault-rifle-from-train-gunman.html Revealed: The mystery man who tackled AK-47 assault rifle from train gunman]</ref><ref>[https://people.com/human-interest/u-s-servicemen-speak-out-after-foiling-terror-attack-on-european-train/ 'Wrong Place, Right People': U.S. Servicemen, Passengers Speak Out after Foiling Possible Terror Attack on European Train]</ref> A Frenchman and an American attempted to stop the armed terrorist, and the latter was shot. One of Skarlatos' friends was injured while attacking the gunman, and Skarlato himself managed to grab the rifle, attack the terrorist in the head with the nozzle while he was strangled to the point of unconsciousness by Skarlatos' injured friend. Skarlatos then performed a crucial treatment on the American who was shot, saving his life.

Skarlatos was heavily praised following his heroism; this included being honored by the [[Department of Defense]]<ref>[https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/617841/department-of-defense-honors-heroes-with-highest-recognition/ Department of Defense honors heroes with highest recognition]</ref> in addition to receiving the highest French honor for having helped stopped the train attack.<ref>[https://whnt.com/news/three-americans-briton-get-highest-french-honor-for-stopping-train-attack/ Three Americans, Briton get highest French honor for stopping train attack]</ref>

Skarlatos was heavily praised following his heroism; this included being honored by the [[Department of Defense]]<ref>[https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/617841/department-of-defense-honors-heroes-with-highest-recognition/ Department of Defense honors heroes with highest recognition]</ref> in addition to receiving the highest French honor for having helped stopped the train attack.<ref>[https://whnt.com/news/three-americans-briton-get-highest-french-honor-for-stopping-train-attack/ Three Americans, Briton get highest French honor for stopping train attack]</ref> He also received a strong recognition from then-president [[Barack Obama]].<ref name="Oregon’s 4th Congressional District draws national attention">[https://www.opb.org/article/2020/10/16/peter-defazio-alek-skarlatos-oregon-4th-congressional-district-race/ Oregon’s 4th Congressional District draws national attention]</ref>

==2020 U.S. House election in Oregon's 4th district==

==2020 U.S. House election in Oregon's 4th district==

Skarlatos released a campaign ad on September 8, 2020 strongly criticizing Rep. DeFazio for being out-of-touch with Oregon's 4th congressional district;<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAVtk1BEB_4&feature=emb_logo Oregon is Burning]</ref> it quickly became popular, helping boost his candidacy.<ref>[https://www.bizpacreview.com/2020/09/09/hero-veterans-oregon-is-burning-campaign-ad-sweeps-the-internet-for-originality-and-fire-970108 Hero veteran’s ‘Oregon is burning’ campaign ad sweeps the internet for originality and fire]</ref> He has previously correctly<ref>[https://projects.propublica.org/represent/members/D000191-peter-a-defazio/compare-votes/O000172-alexandria-ocasio-cortez/116 Compare the voting records of Peter A. DeFazio and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in 2019-20.]</ref> noted that the incumbent [[progressive]] representative has voted with [[AOC]] 96% of the time.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/media/alek-skarlatos-hero-paris-train-running-congress-oregon Hero from Paris train attack running to unseat liberal Oregon Democrat: 'He votes with AOC 96 percent of the time']</ref> In an interview with [[Breitbart]], Skarlatos pointed out the lack of accomplishments made by DeFazio while the district has suffered economically.<ref>[https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/09/09/watch-alek-skarlatos-hero-who-thwarted-terrorist-train-attack-takes-his-democrat-opponent-key-or-district/ Watch: Alek Skarlatos, Hero Who Thwarted Terrorist Train Attack, Takes on His Democrat Opponent in Key Oregon District]</ref>

Skarlatos released a campaign ad on September 8, 2020 strongly criticizing Rep. DeFazio for being out-of-touch with Oregon's 4th congressional district;<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAVtk1BEB_4&feature=emb_logo Oregon is Burning]</ref> it quickly became popular, helping boost his candidacy.<ref>[https://www.bizpacreview.com/2020/09/09/hero-veterans-oregon-is-burning-campaign-ad-sweeps-the-internet-for-originality-and-fire-970108 Hero veteran’s ‘Oregon is burning’ campaign ad sweeps the internet for originality and fire]</ref> He has previously correctly<ref>[https://projects.propublica.org/represent/members/D000191-peter-a-defazio/compare-votes/O000172-alexandria-ocasio-cortez/116 Compare the voting records of Peter A. DeFazio and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in 2019-20.]</ref> noted that the incumbent [[progressive]] representative has voted with [[AOC]] 96% of the time.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/media/alek-skarlatos-hero-paris-train-running-congress-oregon Hero from Paris train attack running to unseat liberal Oregon Democrat: 'He votes with AOC 96 percent of the time']</ref> In an interview with [[Breitbart]], Skarlatos pointed out the lack of accomplishments made by DeFazio while the district has suffered economically.<ref>[https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/09/09/watch-alek-skarlatos-hero-who-thwarted-terrorist-train-attack-takes-his-democrat-opponent-key-or-district/ Watch: Alek Skarlatos, Hero Who Thwarted Terrorist Train Attack, Takes on His Democrat Opponent in Key Oregon District]</ref>

While "experts" consider the race to lean in DeFazio's favor,<ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com/oregon-4th-district-house-election-peter-defazio-alek-skarlatos-2020?op=1 17-term incumbent Rep. Peter DeFazio fights to retain his seat against Republican Alek Skarlatos]</ref> some noted that the race have tightened.<ref>[https://www.opb.org/news/article/alek-skarlatos-peter-defazio-fundraising/ Skarlatos' fundraising surge may signal tough race for Oregon's DeFazio]</ref><ref>[https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/16/defazio-house-transportation-race-tightens-429599 Dem chairman's race tightens as GOP 'hero' pulls in millions]</ref> The race notably drew strong attention.<ref>[https://www.opb.org/article/2020/10/16/peter-defazio-alek-skarlatos-oregon-4th-congressional-district-race/ Oregon’s 4th Congressional District draws national attention]</ref> While [[Donald Trump]] lost the district in the [[2016 U.S. presidential election]], [[Hillary Clinton]] only carried it by 0.1% of the votes cast,<ref>[https://cookpolitical.com/introducing-2017-cook-political-report-partisan-voter-index The 2016 Presidential Election by Congressional District]</ref> likely signally a possible upset in the 2020 elections.

While "experts" consider the race to lean in DeFazio's favor,<ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com/oregon-4th-district-house-election-peter-defazio-alek-skarlatos-2020?op=1 17-term incumbent Rep. Peter DeFazio fights to retain his seat against Republican Alek Skarlatos]</ref> some noted that the race have tightened.<ref>[https://www.opb.org/news/article/alek-skarlatos-peter-defazio-fundraising/ Skarlatos' fundraising surge may signal tough race for Oregon's DeFazio]</ref><ref>[https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/16/defazio-house-transportation-race-tightens-429599 Dem chairman's race tightens as GOP 'hero' pulls in millions]</ref> The race notably drew strong attention.<ref name="Oregon’s 4th Congressional District draws national attention"/> While [[Donald Trump]] lost the district in the [[2016 U.S. presidential election]], [[Hillary Clinton]] only carried it by 0.1% of the votes cast,<ref>[https://cookpolitical.com/introducing-2017-cook-political-report-partisan-voter-index The 2016 Presidential Election by Congressional District]</ref> likely signally a possible upset in the 2020 elections.

Skarlatos wrote an op-ed in mid-October 2020 on ''The Register-Guard'' on "standing up to the D.C. machine".<ref>[https://www.registerguard.com/story/opinion/columns/2020/10/17/alek-skarlatos-standing-up-d-c-machine-congress-4th-congressional-district-oregon/3667975001/ Alek Skarlatos, running for U.S. House: Standing up to the D.C. machine]</ref>

Skarlatos wrote an op-ed in mid-October 2020 on ''The Register-Guard'' on "standing up to the D.C. machine".<ref>[https://www.registerguard.com/story/opinion/columns/2020/10/17/alek-skarlatos-standing-up-d-c-machine-congress-4th-congressional-district-oregon/3667975001/ Alek Skarlatos, running for U.S. House: Standing up to the D.C. machine]</ref>