November 06, 2008
Legislative Race Update
All House contests until the end of the post...
Hot race:
Quasi-incumbent Norma Smith's race to hold the seat she was appointed to in the 10th LD. After an election night deficit, she is winning later counts outright, particularly in the Island County vote block that dominates the district. Current margin: Tim Knue 50.06% - Smith's 49.94%, with plenty of ballots left for Smith to pull into a lead based on trends of the last few days. Watch for a possible recount.
Incumbent watch:
Two King County Republicans, Skip Priest and Glenn Anderson were behind after first counts on Nov 4th, in the 30th and 5th Districts respectively. Later tallies have given each more comfortable margins.
Pick-up opportunities:
Kevin Parker has been extending his lead in the 6th LD, as has Jan Angel in the 26th LD. Those seats look to be won.
Open seat retention:
Bruce Dammeier appears to be holding the 25th District seat of the retiring Joyce McDonald.
Just short (maybe):
Mike Hope is closing well against quasi-incumbent Liz Loomis in the 44th LD, but faced a tough gap of about 7% after early mail-in ballot counts (and a ton of cash spent against him). The race has closed to 51.3% to 48.7%, but Hope's margin in the final counts will have to be impressive indeed to win this one.
Possible loss:
Also in the 6th LD, less than impressive legislator John Ahern has been trailing since Election Night but gaining ground with each count. Current standings: Ahern trails 49.93% - 50.07%.
It looks like Ahern will pull ahead given the volume of remaining ballots, though like the 10th LD race discussed above may be headed for a recount.
Good riddance:
The firm Democratic pick-up of this cycle is in the 17th LD, where Tim Probst defeated challenger James Joseph. The latter was not a great candidate and Dunn's retirement makes for addition by subtraction in the House GOP caucus.
Lone Senate race of note:
Randi Becker (R) has moved past incumbent Democrat Marilyn Rasmussen in the 2nd LD. The margin is 50.41% for the challenger, to Rasmussen's 49.59%. Becker would be a solid addition to the Senate GOP if she pulls out the race.
Posted by Eric Earling at November 06, 2008
08:08 PM | Email This
1. One of my kids, a college student in Spokane, had the privilege of following Kevin Parker around while he doorbelled a few weeks ago. She was taking photographs for an article to be written in the school's newspaper about Parker, a Whitworth College alum. She said Parker seemed like a good guy, and is happy to hear of his success.
Congrats, Kevin Parker. We love it when the good guys win!
2. The House campaign committee is watching these races closely. Learning lessons from 2004, we are prepared for recount "issues" and will work hard to protect the integrity of these races. We expect trends to carry Rep Smith, Rep Anderson and Rep Ahern to narrow victories and like Eric said, recounts.
Outspent over 3 to 1, in a Democrat landslide nationwide, House Republicans are looking to actually gain a legislative seat in 2008. It is a testament to having good candidates who work hard. And Michele, you are right. Representative elect Parker is a high quality person who will serve his district well. Thank you to everyone who helped us stop the wave.
3. I'm a Republican. And a proud one to boot. I don't like the Deomocratic Party. I don't wish them well. But please, please, please, please stop calling them the "Democrat Party". It's childish. And all it does is make you look like a partisan hack.
4. Oh brother... The only people who really get upset with being called the "Democrat Party" are Democrats. No one else cares. Sounds like the whining over Rossi using GOP.
5. #3...But doesn't it make sense?? I'm a Republican in the Republican Party...A Democrat would be in the Democrat Party. It's a no-brainer & follows the context. Childishness has nothing to do with it. And by the way, being democratic might have nothing to do with being a Democrat.
6. OK eric u were right, Hope is going to recount. But if the trend holds or improves slightly, we pull ahead. We did close a lot harder, she opened a lot harder and that was reflected in the first tally. Republicans need to stay vigilant in this race, I don't trust the auditors office one bit.
7. I guess that it's good that you're all looking for something positive from the election, no matter how miniscule.
It sure beats crying 'cause you got your a%#es kicked!
8. @ #7:
The only thing worse than a sore loser is an ungracious winner. Grow up.
9. "Grow up"?
DD - A curious comment from one who has supported the gutter politics of the Republican't party.
10. Go Obama Go: Consider that Obama's resume includes 1) being a community rabble rouser (aka "community organizer a la Alinsky) 2) voting "present" as a state senator & 3) "suddenly" being qualified to run for president after four short months in the U.S. Senate.
That's it.
That's got to be the thinnest and most unimpressive resume anyone running for president ever had. The 'empty suit' label is exceedingly appropriate for Obama, isn't it?
11. PS--I forgot to mention that Obama also was the only other guy on a board with Bill Ayers, once on the FBI's Most Wanted List for unrepentantly blowing up almost two dozen bombs in the capitol, pentagon, etc. Calls himself a communist and wishes he'd blown up more targets. Nice.
Oh. That doesn't really help Obama's already-not-so-great resume, does it?
12. Michele - Touched a nerve did I?
John McCain has a very long resume in government. He sure ran a great campaign because of that, huh? ;-)
You also say Obama was the "only other guy on a board with Bill Ayers". Obama was on the board of the Annenberg Foundation with Bill Ayers and SEVERAL other people, most of them Republican'ts. Also the Annenberg Foundation was founded by and is administered by, you guessed it Republicant's!
When are you going to throw all of them out of your ever-shrinking party?
And speaking of empty suits: Is Africa a country? If you answered yes; you're wrong. If you answered, no it's a continent; Congratulations! You're smarter than Sarah Palin!
"Hello, I am Nikolas Sarkozy and I can see Belgium from France.................."
What a bimbo. Is that why you like her? Are you a bimbo too?
LOL!
13. Is it childish to call them the Socialist Party? Nyuk nyuk.
14. Go - go stick your head up your anus screwhead.
15. Crusader - Please write some more, your command of the language is AMAZING! ;-)
16. GO GO GO ahead and gloat. Everyone loves to have someone like you around. It helps to remind us of who we are. By the way, how about coming back in 2 or 3 or 4 years and extol how wonderful the world and life is. By that time Barak will have healed all of our souls, lowered the oceans, brought wealth and prosperity to each and every one plus the Iranians will have ceased all of their anti-American rhetoric and embraced Israel, the terrorist around the world will have completely disbanded and the lion and the lamb will lay down together without the lamb having a single ounce of fear of being eaten. I expect that everything will just be completely wonderful. Hell, I even expect that Republicans and Conservatives will, by then, have seen the light through re-education and self introspection. That feels a lot better. I am already beginning to see the light.
17. Here it is, Friday morning and I checked my county's web page to see if they have my ballot, much less there was nothing wrong with it.
I dropped it off about a mile from the courthouse at one of those collection centers on Tuesday morning. That is three days of counting and it still hasn't been counted.
I waited for the last minute because there were a couple of downticket races I was chewing on, but my word, I dropped off on Tuesday. This calls for a Letter to the Editor (that is, if there is a newspaper then).
18. Well Well, the people of America made a foolish choice. We conservative only have to sit back and watch as the dems screw up everthing in sight just like Carter. Then we'll have to come in and clean up BO's mess. The dems will be so ashamed of their mess that they will climb right back under the socialist rock they came from. All you "Moderates" who voted for BO... Shame on you this is your fault. Go to your savior BO and see how much he cares. The only thing he will care about is how much of your hard earned income he can take then blame it on the Republicans. People are so dupped ....
19. Hey, #3,
The Democratic Party is neither a Party, nor is it democratic.
Discuss amoungst your friends.
20. @18: TruePatriot, the problem is that the party leaned back and spent money like sailors in a whorehouse for the past 8 years. This mess is a GOP mess, and the leadership at the top of the party hasn't shown a quantum of ability in dealing with it.
21. Ryan - Who spends the money? You say the GOP spent us into this mess?
Well the person(s) who makes the budget are the true spenders of the money and who makes the budget? Well that would be the democratic controlled Senate and Congress. The President either signs the budget or the government goes broke. (The democratics won't even give the president a line item veto) Now once again, tell me .... who spent our country into the hole?
22. Cindy - Ryan is of course correct and you are not. The Democrats have controlled congress only for the last two years and then only by slim majorities. Yes, many of them went along with some of the spending bills of the Republicant's but it was the W himself who never vetoed a single bill (either a spending bill or otherwise) in his fist 6 years.
Are you going to try to blame the entire cost of this nonsensical war on the Dems?
1 20 09 I can't wait!
23. Bush definately spent alot of money, some of the earmarks he signed are incredible. Unfortunatley, I don't anticipate that changing under an Obama administration...I'd love to be wrong tho.