Politics Suburban Archipelago
posted by on November 10 at 13:44 PM
Earlier this year, I did a story on the Washington State Democrats’ hope to win all the state house and senate races on the Eastside. The Democrats have been claiming for years, ever since 1998 when Laura Ruderman established a D beachhead on the Eastside, that the suburban districts were trending their way. They also pointed to Kerry’s 56 percent on the Eastside and things like the I-912 transportation tax repeal going down by 66 percent.
Well, 2006 was indeed a revolution at the state level. On the Eastside—the 48th
(Bellevue/Kirkland/Redmond/Sammamish); the 45th (Woodinville/Duvall/Kirkland/Redmond/Carnation); the 41st (Mercer Is./Parts of Bellevue/Issaquah/Renton); and even the 47th (South Central King County/Auburn/Covington)—11 of the 12 seats are now in Democratic hands. Fred Jarrett, one of the two Reps in the 41st, is now the only GOP member of the state house from Seattle’s Eastside suburbs.
There were 5 Democratic pick-ups all in all. I’ll bold each one below.
Here’s the rundown:
In the 47th: Claudia Kauffman (now the first female Native American in the state senate) won the open senate seat 52 to 47 (the incumbent had been a Republican). Geoff Simpson won his house seat 59 to 40. Pat Sullivan won the other 47th house seat, 59 to 40.
In the 48th: Rodney Tom (former Republican state house member turned Democrat) beat incumbent GOP state senator Luke Esser 53 to 46. Chris Gregorich, executive director of the Washington State Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, boasts that this is the first time the Democrats have ever held the senate seat in the 48th. (The seat has existed since 1957.) Ross Hunter won his house seat 66 to 33. And Deb Eddy won the open house seat 57 to 42. (This had also been in GOP hands.)
In the 45th: Eric Oemig won the open senate seat 53 to 46 (this had been in GOP hands); Larry Springer retained his house seat 59 to 40; and drug reform advocate Roger Goodman (who got little help from the party) won 54 to 46. (This was another open seat that had been in GOP hands.)
In the 41st: D senator Brian Weinstein wasn’t up for reelection; Democratic house member Judy Clibborn kept her seat 64 to 35; and the lone GOPer, Fred Jarrett won 53 to 46.
Gregorich says the Dems are now eyeing the the 5th District, east central King County, which is still controlled by the GOP.
Sylvia Skratek won a Senate seat in the 47th LD and Kathleen Drew won a Senate seat in the 5th LD before Laura Ruderman won her House seat in the 45th, so they should get credit for establishing the beachhead.
I blogged on these and other races here two days ago. Otherwise this is all spot on.
I talk to Gregorich all the time and I know even he did not expect to win so many seats. He'll never admit it though, haha.
Then how the hell is Reichert ahead? Did he carry 100% of Enumclaw?
Um, you've forgotten about the 5th LD.
Soldily Republican for now. In 2008? Who knows?
Man, that's a lot of suburban Dems. At this rate, one day the Democratic party will be able to run someone with actual political experience for the 8th Congressional District.
What a concept!
(PS, snark aside, nothing against Darcy Burner, Dave Ross, or Heidi Behrens-Benedict. Except that, well, none of them are career pols, you know?)
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