Governor
Related Coverage, Page 16
Doug Clark: A lawmaker of a higher caliber
Nothing says “Welcome back from vacation, Doug” like a Road Rage Republican. So thanks to whoever gifted the newspaper with court documents about the firearms violations that were issued to Matt Shea after the Spokane Valley legislator’s dustup with another driver last November.
Five candidates vie for Billig’s seat in the House
The last-minute decision of state Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown to retire at the end of the year set off a quick, frenzied rush among Democrats to determine how to maintain control of the three seats representing the only Democratic-leaning district in Eastern Washington. In the end, state Rep. Andy Billig became the standard-bearer for the party for the Senate seat. That left Billig’s House seat open.
Candidates for Congress weigh in on top issues
Two years ago, Democrats were divided about their choice to challenge U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers. But this year, party officials worked to unite the party early behind Spokane businessman and filmmaker Rich Cowan and persuade other potential candidates, including former Spokane Mayor Mary Verner, to stay out of the race.
Spin Control: Social media leads to inane politics
It’s not clear yet whether this year’s campaign staffs are hell-bent on testing Marshall McLuhan’s theorem that “the medium is the message” or are so enamored with high tech that they think it’s the be-all and end-all of politics. Last week, a member of Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna’s campaign went from paid staffer to suspended staffer to fired staffer in the span of three days. Kathlyn Ehls had typed messages into Twitter that called for Asian-Americans to “learn English” and senior citizens who walk too slowly across the street in front of her vehicle to “get a wheelchair.”
Cantwell’s Senate foes facing a tough campaign
For Michael Baumgartner, the challenge he faces in winning Washington’s U.S. Senate seat could be as formidable as the mountains that bisect the state. Democrat Maria Cantwell is a well-funded, two-term incumbent in a state that most national political experts color deep blue. She beat a GOP icon, Slade Gorton, to win the seat in 2000 and dispatched a well-known Republican challenger, Seattle business executive Mike McGavick, in 2006.
Four seeking to replace Ahern in 6th District
The announcement earlier this year from state Rep. John Ahern that he wouldn’t seek a new term has opened the door for a competitive primary for his Spokane County seat. Ahern, a Republican, represents the 6th Legislative District, which surrounds central Spokane on the south, west and north. It has been a swing district in recent years, but Republicans swept the district’s positions in 2010.
President to attend Seattle fundraisers
President Barack Obama is scheduled to stop in Seattle next week, the third time in seven months he will visit the state’s largest city to raise money. His re-election campaign hasn’t released many details of the trip yet. It’s a stop with two campaign fundraisers at the end of a Western swing that includes Nevada, California and Portland. He then heads for New Orleans.
Obama returning to Seattle
President Obama has two fundraisers scheduled next week in Seattle
McKenna raises more than Inslee
OLYMPIA – With less than four months to go before Election Day, Republican Rob McKenna holds a $900,000 cash advantage in Washington’s race for governor. New campaign finance reports filed this week show that McKenna has $3.7 million available to spend while Democratic opponent Jay Inslee has $2.8 million. Inslee burned through a large chunk of his cash in recent weeks with a television ad blitz that he used to introduce himself to voters.
Ballots in the mail
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