Mcdonald Says He Won’t Run For Governor, Backs Smith

Senate Republican Leader Dan McDonald on Thursday backed away from his expected bid for governor, saying he wants to concentrate on winning a GOP majority in the state Senate.

In withdrawing, he endorsed U.S. Rep. Linda Smith, the feisty conservative who once served in the Senate alongside the Bellevue lawmaker.

Smith, who has not announced any campaign plans, said she was flattered and appreciative, but “can’t think about a campaign right now” with congressional duties so pressing.

McDonald had not officially announced his candidacy and wasn’t a regular on the circuit of candidate forums. But he had been raising money and making speeches as part of an exploratory campaign. In earlier interviews, he had sounded like a candidate and said he expected to run.

But in recent days, the senator said in an interview, he realized his heart wasn’t in the race, but with his party’s rising fortunes in the Legislature.

The Republicans need one more seat to take over the Senate majority from the Democrats. The split now is 25 Democrats and 24 Republicans. McDonald says Republicans could pick off as many as 11 Democrats in next year’s elections, and have few vulnerable seats themselves.

McDonald’s decision defuses a potentially tense relationship between House and Senate Republicans, since he won’t be challenging Foreman for the nomination.

“I think Dan McDonald will be an outstanding majority leader,” Foreman deadpanned when he got news of the senator’s decision.

But he didn’t get McDonald’s endorsement.

McDonald said he telephoned Smith to tell her his decision and to “encourage her very strongly to jump into the race.