State Senator

Independents may hold fate of state Senate seat

Spokane Valley’s 4th Legislative District is so Republican that voters have elected the GOP candidate 38 times in the 40 legislative elections since 1980. So Republican that both candidates in this year’s special state Senate race are Republicans. But as incumbent Jeff Baxter, 51, and former state Rep. Mike Padden, 64, split the GOP vote, it could be independents and Democrats who decide who will fill the final year of the state Senate seat.