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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.

Votes are still coming in via the U.S. Mail causing leads to shrink and expand all over the state.

In the governor's race, Dino Rossi has cut Chris Gregoire's lead by a point after two more days of returns, from a four point deficit to what is now 48.8 percent for Gregoire and 45.7 percent for the Republican. He has also erased Gregoire's lead in the two Eastern Washington counties she once held, Spokane and Asotin.

Rossi has also take over Clark and Cowlitz Counties, making the updated Spokesman-Review map look a lot more red

Although voters have had a chance to breath with Tuesday's"top two" primary fuly out of the way and early August's hot weather long gone, that is not necessarily the case for all the candidates seeking legislative positions. With votes continuing to come into county auditors by mail, the outcome of a handfulof races across the state are still up in the air.

In the 8th Legislative District, a normally Republican House seat long held by the retiring Rep. Shirley Hankins (R-Richland), the sole Democrat in the race, Carol Moser, is the only candidate so far to ensure her spot in the general election. That is because the Republican side of the primary was crowded with four candidates who split the vote almost equally.

The House Democratic Campaign Committee, the arm of elected state Representatives that  works to increase the size of their caucus, recently gave Richland Democrat Carol Moser a contribution of $20,000 in her bid to replace the retiring Rep. Shirley Hankins (R-Richland) in the 8th Legislative District, the Tri-City Herald's Chris Mulick reports.

"That was a nice gift, wasn't it?" the candidate told Mulick.

Considering that Democrats in the 8th District have been regularly and roundly defeated by margins of at least 30 points in the past fifteen years, it really is.

Chris Mulick at the TCH is reporting that retiring Rep. Shirley Hankins (R-Richland) has endorsed Skip Novakovich for her open seat this year. When he entered the race in mid-May Novakovich, who used to work for Hankins, swiped at his opponents for announcing their candidacy before Hankins formally retired.

"I'm kind of surprised, really," Novakovich said at the time. "It's almost like a slap in the face to her. She's making a tough decision."

Hankins said in a press release that her decision was based on his qualifications.

Republican Skip Novakovich, a Kennewick businessman, has said that he will formally announce his candidacy for retiring Rep. Shirley Hankins' seat in the 8th District in the coming weeks.  

He joins Rick Jansons, Brad Klippert and Steve Simmons in the race. Novakoviach, who had worked on many of Hankins' campaigns in the past, was critical of their decision to  toss their hats in before she officially decided to retire last week.

“I’m kind of surprised, really,” Novakovich said. “It’s almost like a slap in the face to her. She’s making a tough decision.”

Chris Mulick at the Tri-City Herald got the story and has more details here. 

Last night's CD5 Republican candidate forum offered a different take on the contenders from last month's event in Scottsdale. While the candidates fielded questions on earmark spending, border security and cuts in government programs, what emerged spoke less to individual policies as the sense that whoever emerges as the nominee will shoulder a heavy burden for the Party.

The field acknowledged a profound dissatisfaction with the Republican Party among voters and a need to reconnect with conservative principles in action, not just as a campaign ploy. They also pledged not to let the primary get so heated as to destroy the victor's chances of beating Rep. Harry Mitchell, and that, once the ticket was set, the others would unite behind the effort of unseating Mitchell in the general.

Rep. Shirley HankinsThe Tri-City Herald has video footage from Rep. Shirley Hankins' (R-Richland) press conference Wednesday where she made her retirement from the state House of Representatives official. Most notable, though, is Hankins' thoughts on the legislature, and the unforgiving words she has for her own Republican Party.

Hankins was also critical of a number of state policies, most notably the budget. She complained that Republican insistence on lower taxes is nice and all, but does nothing for the long term status of the state.

After months of teasing the press about whether or not she would run for re-election to at 13th term, the Tri-City Herald reports that Rep. Shirley Hankins has announced that she will indeed retire. During the last legislative session Hankins was the third longest serving member in the House.

Her exit leaves four candidates in the race for the 8th District seat, Republicans Brad Klippert, Steve Simmons and Rick Jansons, and Democrat Carol Moser.

Rep. Larry Haler (R-Richland)Former Richland Mayor Rob Welch will announce today that he is seeking Rep. Larry Haler’s seat in the 8th District. Both candidates are Richland Republicans.

"I appreciate the many friends and family members that have convinced me that the way to make a difference on the issues that are important to our community is to continue to serve as an elected official of our district," Welch says on his website. He looks to run on a general platform of"more efficient, less intrusive, government."

TCH’s Chris Mulick, who broke the story, adds this bit of analysis to the matchup:

“It could be an interesting campaign. Haler and Welch served on the council together and Haler, himself a former mayor, has not hid his contempt.”