Spokane7
67°
November 3, 2010 in City
Dems likely to keep majorities in Washington legislature
Jim Camden
The Spokesman-Review
Democrats will hold a three-seat majority in the state Senate and an eight-seat majority in the state House if current trends in election results hold.
That’s a fairly big if, considering several of the races are within a couple percentage points and subject to change. One, Snohomish County’s 44th, has Democrat Steve Hobbs leading Republican Dave Schmidt by just eight votes.
Spokane County doesn’t plan to release more election results until 5 p.m. today.
Supermajority for taxes unconstitutional, judge rules 
karl2002 on November 03 at 11:17 a.m.
Hey Jim,
Who is in charge of S-R’s results page? I don’t see any information on the percentage of the vote counted for any of the races or measures. Am I blind?
misjustice on November 03 at 11:38 a.m.
I hate vote by mail.
When we actually went to our precincts to cast our votes we had the results relatively quick. But the mail in process causes the counting to be drug out for days, leaving our outcomes [and Alaska’s] still up in the air.
Additionally, I used to truly enjoy working at my precinct. There was a sense of community energy created by neighbors coming to the polls, greeting each other, casting ballots. Some would linger and make small talk, others would dash in on their way to work and be out in minutes. The act of exercising our franchise with those we call neighbors helped to reinforce our connectedness, our sense of community.
Voting by mail pales in comparison.
I attempted to speak with Sam Reed, Secretary of State, several years ago when I met him but he was very non-responsive to the idea of going back to precinct voting.
Anyway, I hope the Democratic lead in the state legislature holds…stay tuned…
; )
hawken on November 03 at 12:15 p.m.
If this proves to be true, which will not surprise me…..
It again demonstrates that WA stands, on whole, among the liberal left states, in keeping with the tradition of Massachusetts, CA, New York and a few others.
Seventeen other state legislatures moved from Democrat to Republican, yesterday…..
Apparently, NOT WA,,,, at this point…. Is there hope yet?
Eleven other states replaced Democrat governors with Republican governors…. I guess we’ll see what happens to our liberal left governor next election.
Is it any wonder that Rossi has such an uphill fight when he runs for state-wide office?? Answer: No wonder.
46 other states, long ago saw the benefit of turning liquor sales over the private sector….. Not big government, union controlled WA… Same to be said of Worker’s Comp which has apparently failed as well.
Yes,,,, I believe there is some hope… If not this election, maybe next.
Oh…. but how WA voters love big government,,, on the whole.
karl2002 on November 03 at 12:24 p.m.
Misjustice,
I really like vote by mail, but I think the best change would be to have the requirement that ballots be received by close of voting on election day. Oregon has this and it works very well. They man additional drop off sites across the state to accommodate any procrastinators.
maria on November 03 at 12:24 p.m.
Poor Hawken didn’t get all the tools he wanted for X-mas.
http://mikeely.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/glenn_beck_crying.png
TheRain on November 03 at 1:03 p.m.
Vote by mail is so much more accessible that the poll system—I’d hate to see Washington go backwards. So we have to wait a few days; it’s worth it to make sure everyone’s vote gets counted.
I’d hate my ballot to rely on the vicissitudes of the postal service getting it there by election day.
509ifyourlucky on November 03 at 1:30 p.m.
The heavy populated counties set the tone for the state as a whole.
Dazzeetrader11 on November 03 at 1:57 p.m.
I’m with Ms J on this one. When I lived there, I always volunteered. It’s community event as far I’m concerned. Bring people together.
More votes haven’t occurred because of vote by mail. Data’s in and more people odn’t vote through the mail. Does leave a window for tampering though…
liarsinnews on November 03 at 2:48 p.m.
Hey Missy: I migrated to Spokane 26 years ago and mail in ballots haven`t changed as to dead lines, i.e., mail in ballots must be post marked by midnight the day of the election and has not changed the process insofar as counting ballots days after the election day. At least since I`ve lived in Spokane.
hawken on November 03 at 3:25 p.m.
Mail in ballots is NOT the problem with WA… It’s one of the things we do right in government…
Does one even have to show proof of identification when you vote in person at the pools?
I don’t remember. It has been so long since I have voted personally at the polls.
Can anyone answer this question?
Scoutster on November 03 at 3:50 p.m.
Vote by mail is much faster in Oregon…dunno why, but I am guessing it has to do with the technology and not with the law.
I think the big difference might be that they actually start counting before the end of business on election day, but I’m not sure.
Orange on November 03 at 6:06 p.m.
Go Dino?
Dazzeetrader11 on November 04 at 1:13 a.m.
YEP! I doubt he’ll win…but he gave the machine a good run.
He was outfinanced by the Murray machine…National R’s didn’t support him properly till very late.
He’ll go back to private business and continue raising his kids. It’s a loss that he didn’t succeed. Really had some important ideas…not sure got them out. Ideas different from the usual R ideas. Shame…but he very likely will not run again…even though I’ve told him he does have some unfinished business in Olympia..perhaps..;)
misjustice on November 04 at 1:41 p.m.
DAZE says,” Really had some important ideas…not sure got them out. Ideas different from the usual R ideas.”
Funny, I never heard those ideas…
All I heard were the vague R talkin’ points, “less gubmint”, “less taxes”, “fix D.C.”, yadda, yadda, yadda….
; )