WA-02

Rep. Rick LarsenRep. Rick Larsen (D-Arlington), the four-term incumbent from Northwest Washington's 2nd Congressional District, began airing his first campaign ads on the radio Monday on stations throughout the district. The spot highlights Larsen's work in expanding health care access for veterans, notably the opening of clinics in Mt. Vernon and Sedro Woolley.

Larsen is being challenged by former Snohomish County Sheriff Rick Bart (R-Arlington), who has yet to advertise and whose campaign was in debt as of the latest filing period at the end of June.

Read the full transcript of the radio ad below the jump.

KING TV and Survey USA conducted polls on two of the state's contested U.S. House races. The polling showed Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Auburn) leading Darcy Burner (D-Carnation) in the 8th Congressional District by a count of 51 percent to 45 percent, and in the 2nd District Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Arlington) leads Rick Bart (R-Arlington) 56 percent to 38%.

Both polls show a Republican advantage relative to the last election. In 2006 Reichert defeated Burner 51-48, and Larsen defeated Republican Doug Roulstone 64-35.

Republican candidate for congress Rick Bart has been putting himself in the news lately, although not by holding large campaign rallies or by creating any scandals. Instead he is doing it the old fashioned way, by creating policy proposals and taking vocal stands on the issues important to 2nd District constituents.

Bart said he plans to release a new statement every week or so where he tries to differentiate himself from incumbent Rick Larsen on a wide range of issues that do not necessarily follow the traditional Republican-Democrat narrative.

Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Arlington) announced today that he will kickoff his campaign for re-election to a 5th term in Congress with events in each of the 2nd District's five counties next week. It has been well known that Larsen would seek another term, but beginning Tuesday in Mount Vernon, it will be official.

Larsen's opponent, Republican Rick Bart (R-Arlington), began his campaign last month.

See the full schedule for Larsen's kickoff here.

Sheriff Rick Bart (R-Arlington): Politicker PhotoRepublican Rick Bart, the former Snohomish County Sheriff running for Congress in Northwest Washington's 2nd District against incumbent Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Arlington) has announced a new policy initiative. In a press release sent out Monday morning, Bart pledged to put forward legislation that would help college graduates ease the increasing burden of student loans.

"If elected," Bart said, "I would propose legislation that allows citizens who have seen their student loan balances balloon with penalties, fees, and accrued interest for 7 years or more a window of opportunity to repay what they originally borrowed and move on with their lives.

Republican Rick Bart, the former Snohomish County Sheriff running for Congress in District 2, has just launched his campaign website, http:http://www.electrickbart.com.

He is running against incumbent Rick Larsen, who is currently in the news for endorsing Barack Obama Thursday.  Larsen's website is http://www.ricklarsen.org/.

Republican candidate Rick Bart may be a former sheriff, but he doesn't have all the law on his side. Today the Washington State Patrol Troopers Association endorsed incumbent Rep. Rick Larsen for Congress in the 2nd District.

"Endorsing Congressman Rick Larsen again was an easy decision for the Troopers Association board," said Tom Pillow, President of the Washington State Patrol Troopers Association. "He has been a friend with an open ear and open door during his entire tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, always supporting public safety issues that are critical to every officer's personal and professional lives."

The Washington State Patrol Troopers Association represents more than 1,100 troopers, detectives, and sergeants in Washington. This is their third endorsement of Larsen.

Find the full press release here.