LD10

DENVER - Congressman Rick Larsen (D-Arlington) sees the results of his "top two" primary race as good news for local Democrats in Northwest Washington. Larsen led the four candidate field with just under 55 percent of the vote, leading his general election opponent Rick Bart (R-Arlington) by seventeen points. Two other Democratic challengers, Doug Schaffer and Glen S. Johnson, received five and three percent of the vote, respectively.

"I feel good about the results of the primary," Larsen said, adding that it felt like vindication for the work he had done on behalf of veterans in his own race.

Besides that, he was also very confident about a lot of the legislative district races in the northwest corner of the state.

"I want to mention a few," he told PolitickerWA.com earlier this week. "Liz Loomis in the 44th is a targeted seat by both parties. Having a good Democratic turnout is important for her and she came out ahead in the primary."

DENVER - The Democratic Speaker of the state House of Representatives, Seattle's Frank Chopp, is well known in political circles for his planning and dedication to building a long-term Democratic majority in Olympia. Just like with the Republicans, every other year provides a chance to gradually build up or chip away at the current lead, depending on what side you are on.

But despite all the projections and planning, did last week's "top two" primary results change the leadership's picture of which races to focus on going into November? Chopp says no.

Patricia TerryThe 10th Legislative District Democrats Executive Board met on Saturday to determine their official slate of endorsed candidates for the "top two" primary on August 19. Notably, they chose to give a sole endorsement for state House, position 2, choosing party nominee Patricia Terry (D-Stanwood) outright over fellow challenger Ann McDonald (D-Greenbank).

The top Democrat in the "top two" primary will likely advance to the general election along with the incumbent, Rep. Barbara Bailey (R-Oak Harbor).

This is what the LD10 Democrats had to say about their endorsement of Terry:

"Patricia Terry, a 30-year Registered Nurse, performance evaluator, regional manager (West/Far East) quality oversight with the Department of Defense, and Masters degree in Public Administration makes her an especially attractive Candidate." 

Despite winning the yard sign war in many of communities along the highways of the 10th Legislative District, and regardless of the fact that Republicans have made state Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen's (D-Camano Island) seat one of their top targets in the state this year, the latest poll shows Republican challenger Linda Haddon (R-Oak Harbor) has not been able to crack the incumbency barrier.

Jerry Cornfield at the Everett Herald reports that the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee paid for a poll of 400 registered voters in the district, which showed Haugen with a 20 point lead over Haddon, 49-29. Haugen, who chairs the Transportation Committee, won re-election in 2004 with barely 50 percent of the vote.

The Tri-City Herald's Chris Mulick talked Republican state Senate politics this week with Minority Leader Mike Hewitt (R-Walla Walla). Hewitt was particularly impressed with the campaigns of challengers Linda Haddon in the 10th LD, Randi Becker in the 2nd, and Steve Van Luven in the 40th.

In particular, he was impressed with Becker's doorbelling and Van Luven's ability to connect with influential lobbyists. Districts 2 and 10 are potential swing districts, but the 40th leans heavily Democratic. Hewitt told TCH that he hoped to have 20 seats in the Republican Senate Caucus next session.

Read the full story here.

As Legislative Districts around the state move to nominate candidates for local offices before their party conventions, many are running into a fresh problem. With the recent decision by the United States Supreme Court to uphold Initiative 872, better known as the "Top Two" Primary, the party nomination process has been turned on its ear, leading some local LDs to openly buck state party rules.

No longer is it up to party voters to decide who their candidate is in races like those for State Representative since the "Top Two" primary ballots do not allow for partisan sections and labels. Still, that ruling does not mean the Parties will just sit idly by and allow their candidates to be chosen for them.

Instead, they have been forced to come up with new nomination processes. Now, at least in the Democratic Party, is up to a small cadre of party activists at the LD level made of up Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs) who have been both elected and appointed to those pots.

But not all party officials have come on board. In the last week and a half, two Legislative Districts' Executive Boards have voted to eschew the party rules and are choosing not to officially nominate any candidates at the State Representative level.