Smith Decides Against Challenging Gorton

Sat., May 8, 1999

From Staff

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith on Friday added his name to the growing list of prominent state Democrats who have decided not to challenge Republican Sen. Slade Gorton next year.

Smith said he was flattered to mentioned as a challenger to the three-term senator, but has decided to seek re-election to his 9th District seat in Congress.

His backers had touted him as a centrist Democrat who has shown he can win in a political swing district. Smith is the first incumbent to be re-elected in the district, which was awarded to the state after the 1990 census.

In a statement released by his campaign committee, he said district voters deserve “some consistency in their representation,” rather than facing their fourth congressman in five elections.

Insurance Commissioner Deborah Senn is committed to the race and two others are considering it - state Supreme Court Justice Phil Talmadge and U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott of Seattle’s 7th District.

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