Some general thoughts about the Washington State Senate Race:

The Washington Post (which of course is an expert on the “other” Washington), proclaims the Evergreen State’s senate race as a toss up.  This assumes that both Patty Murray and Dino Rossi survive the new “Top Two” primary and advance to battle in November.  Assuming they do both advance, polls seem to show them as very close among likely voter preference.  While the likeliest scenario is that the two most recognizable names in the race do advance, in this Tea Party year, anything is possible on the Republican side.  While it is easy to discount Paul Akers and Clint Didier, the strong anti-incumbent, and anti-establishment passion among conservative voters could really hurt Rossi. Dino Rossi, among the Republicans, is the establishment figure, despite never having won a state-wide race (or at least making his one win stick…).  Add to that the fact that Rossi is an economic conservative, with a more liberal take on the abortion issue, and Sarah Palin’s endorsement of Clint Didier, and we have an interesting mixture that could bite Rossi. 

If Rossi does manage to join Murray in the rarified air of the “Top Two,” he faces the challenge of energizing the conservative voters who currently back Didier, and/or worship Sarah Palin.  If Rossi cannot corral the Republican Party’s usually reliable Eastern Washington base, he will be in serious trouble.  His best shot is to run against President Obama, not against Murray.  Tuesday night will be interesting…

From the Seattle Times:

Breaking his silence after days of baiting from Democrats, Senate candidate Dino Rossi on Wednesday staked his stance on the financial regulatory bill pending before Congress.

Turns out that like Democratic incumbent Sen. Patty Murray, Republican Rossi says he’s on the side of Main Street, not Wall Street.

But unlike Murray, Rossi believes the way to show allegiance to the little guy is to vote against the Financial Regulatory Reform Conference Report instead of for it.

Rossi depicted Murray’s planned vote…http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012359132_financialreform15m.html

Dino Rossi Inches Closer to Challenging Patty
Murray in Washington State

In a speech on May 21, 2010, Republican Dino Rossi
spoke of policy and politics, but came just short of
saying he will challenge incumbent Democratic Senator
Patty Murray, who is up for re-election this November.
Speculation has centered around Rossi, who has valuable
state-wide name recognition and respect among
conservative voters after two failed, but close,
campaigns against Washington Governor Christine
Gregoire. Other Republicans have softly criticized
Rossi, saying he must make up his mind soon, since many
funding and endorsement decisions stakeholders are
awaiting news as to whether or not Rossi is indeed in the
race. Already declared Republican candidates include
businessman Paul Akers, ex-NFL football player Clint
Didier and state Sen. Don Benton.

Rossi
at Senate Starting Gate: Will He?–by Joel Connely,
Seattle P-I, May 21, 2010

Washington State Senate Election 2010

Candidates for Washington State Senate 2010:

Senator Patty Murray is the incumbent, and the only Democrat running at this time.

The incumbent, Senator Patty Murray (D) Campaign website

Several Republicans are running for Murray’s Senate Seat. They include:

Former State Senator Don Benton (R)-Campaign website, BentonForSenate@Twitter, Don Benton on Facebook, Don Benton on YouTube

Paul Akers (R)-Campaign website, Akersforsenate@Twitter, Paul Akers on Facebook, Paul Akers on YouTube

On July 3, 2009, Sarah Palin announced she was resigning as governor of Alaska on July 26. Speculation immediatly centered on Palin’s presidential ambitions. Not being tied to Alaska for the next few years will free her up to…http://www.worldbiography.net/palin_sarah.html

The election race for Auburn’s mayor just became a LOT more interesting.  Incumbent Mayor Pete Lewis is running for a third term, and as of Thursday, June 4, 2009, three challengers have emerged to oppose him.  The most interesting of the three, to anyone who follows Auburn politics, is City Councilmember Virginia Haugen.  Haugen has been a long-time vocal critic of Mayor Lewis and the way Lewis and the Council run Auburn. 

She is joined in the race against Lewis by Shelley Erickson, owner of Shelley’s Total Body Works, a tanning and beauty salon in south Auburn, and by Frank Lonergan, an Auburn Locksmith who has served as Treasurer for the Northwest Locksmith Association.

It is well-known that Haugen and Lewis do not see eye-to-eye on many matters related to business development in Auburn.  In October, 2008, Haugen “stormed out” of a Council meeting, later explaining that she believed Mayor Lewis was not being truthful in relation to City involvement in the failed Ace Hardware Project that effectively killed off a historic business that had served Auburn for 114 years. 

This election season in Auburn will be VERY interesting to watch…

http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2009/06/filing-week-2009-look-at-whos-filed-in_04.html

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/aub/news/30811219.html

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/aub/community/44931842.html

http://mynwla.com/treasurer.html

President Obama picked Judge Sonia Sotomayor as his Supreme Court choice, not Governor Gregoire, as editorialized on this website back on May 3 (see: http://www.washingtonstatepolitics.com/2009/05/03/why-gregoire-is-a-great-pick-for-obama-to-make-for-the-supreme-court/). 

That having been said, Obama’s choice of Sotomayor makes sense; she is a veteran judge, has a compelling personal history, and in this era of identity politics, the fact she is a female hispanic makes sense.  For more info on the coming confirmation battle, go to:

 http://www.historyguy.com/supremecourt/sonia_sotomayor_supreme_court_appointment.htm

With a brief mention in a New York Times article that she was a possibility for appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court as a replacement for the retiring Justice Souter, a bevy of possible scenarios opened up for Gregoire and for Washington State. 

For Governor Gregoire, the timing is perfect, with a highly unpopular budget just passed by the Legislature, most Democratic constituencies in the state unhappy with her (social workers, teacher unions, unions in general, government workers, health care activists, etc.), now is a great time to bail out of a foundering ship of state, and leave the mess to the Lt. Governor, fellow Democrat Brad Owen.  Unless things turn around quickly, and with little pain ( not a likely possibility), Gregoire, should she choose to run for a third term, would likely face a bruising campaign.  With the current Senators from Washington, (Murray and Cantwell), not making noises about retiring, there literally is no where else for this ambitious woman to go.  She has extensive legal experience, served three terms as State Attorney General, and would have the added quality of being, if appointed and confirmed, the only Supreme with elected political experience.  A definite plus if serving in any capacity in Washington City.  Plus, President Obama is a very astute politician, and Washington has firmly been in the Democratic fold in Presidential elections since 1988.  This would be good, quality payback for this state’s firm liberal loyalty.

Washington State would gain advantages from a Gregoire nomination to the Supreme Court as well.  The state has not had a native son (or daughter) on the Supreme Court since William O. Douglas retired in 1975.  Also, given the budget issues mentioned above, a new governor could probably effectively govern better without the baggage of the budget wars recently fougtht in Olympia.  A new Governor Owens would start off fresh, without the leftover detritus that Christine Gregoire will have to deal with the remainder of her term.  If I were the head of the state Democratic Party, I would be actively lobbying the Obama Administration to select Gregoire for all of the above reasons.  Just good politics, you know.

Gregoire has issued the ususal denials, saying things such as ‘thank you, it is such an honor, but…’ which is only par for the course in politics.  You can’t look eager to want something like this.  Playing coy is just part of the game, and Obama certainly knows this. 

Plus, wouldn’t it be cool to see a native of little old Auburn, WA make it all the way to the Supreme Court?

So, wait and see…What do you folks think?

Leave a comment or two…

With a brief mention in a New York Times article that she was a possibility for appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court as a replacement for the retiring Justice Souter, a bevy of possible scenarios opened up for Gregoire and for Washington State. 

For Governor Gregoire, the timing is perfect, with a highly unpopular budget just passed by the Legislature, most Democratic constituencies in the state unhappy with her (social workers, teacher unions, unions in general, government workers, health care activists, etc.), now is a great time to bail out of a foundering ship of state, and leave the mess to the Lt. Governor, fellow Democrat Brad Owen.  Unless things turn around quickly, and with little pain ( not a likely possibility), Gregoire, should she choose to run for a third term, would likely face a bruising campaign.  With the current Senators from Washington, (Murray and Cantwell), not making noises about retiring, there literally is no where else for this ambitious woman to go.  She has extensive legal experience, served three terms as State Attorney General, and would have the added quality of being, if appointed and confirmed, the only Supreme with elected political experience.  A definite plus if serving in any capacity in Washington City.  Plus, President Obama is a very astute politician, and Washington has firmly been in the Democratic fold in Presidential elections since 1988.  This would be good, quality payback for this state’s firm liberal loyalty.

Washington State would gain advantages from a Gregoire nomination to the Supreme Court as well.  The state has not had a native son (or daughter) on the Supreme Court since William O. Douglas retired in 1975.  Also, given the budget issues mentioned above, a new governor could probably effectively govern better without the baggage of the budget wars recently fougtht in Olympia.  A new Governor Owens would start off fresh, without the leftover detritus that Christine Gregoire will have to deal with the remainder of her term.  If I were the head of the state Democratic Party, I would be actively lobbying the Obama Administration to select Gregoire for all of the above reasons.  Just good politics, you know.

Gregoire has issued the ususal denials, saying things such as ‘thank you, it is such an honor, but…’ which is only par for the course in politics.  You can’t look eager to want something like this.  Playing coy is just part of the game, and Obama certainly knows this. 

Plus, wouldn’t it be cool to see a native of little old Auburn, WA make it all the way to the Supreme Court?

So, wait and see…What do you folks think?

Leave a comment or two…

As of 9:15, Nov. 4, Gregoire led Rossi 52% to 48 %, on the heels of Barack Obama's sweeping Electoral victory. The race for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction was tied at 50% each between Bergeson and Dorn

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008351683_weblocal04.html