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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Olympia

It’s official: state Rep. John Driscoll, D-Spokane…

After a hand recount in a razor-thin race, Spokane election officials say that challenger John Driscoll, a Spokane Democrat, has successfully ousted state Rep. John Ahern, R-Spokane.

Driscoll will represent the largely suburban 6th district, a crescent wrapped around western Spokane.

Both men are in Olympia today for committee days. Ahern has also been doing interviews about a controversial atheist sign posted alongside a nativity scene this week in the capitol.

Driscoll's squeaker of a win means that the Ds and Rs fought to a draw in the 6th. The Democrats lost state Rep. Don Barlow's seat to Republican Kevin Parker, but the Democrats ousted Ahern.

Counting Democratic state Sen. Chris Marr (who wasn't up for election this year), that means that Democrats are 2-1 against Republicans in the district, which until two years ago was a longtime Republican stronghold.



Short takes and breaking news from the Washington Legislature and the state capital.