With the new Primary Election system in Washington State the two top winners move on so potentially you could have a Democrat vs. a Democrat and a Republican vs. a Republican in the General Election.
Here is a breakdown of what happened in this election:
Democrat Christine Gregoire failed to garner a majority in the race for Governor but I don’t think anyone can make the call about what will happen in the General Election with such a huge voter turnout expected for the presidential race in November. I figured she would take a big hit for single handily bungling of the whole Sonic Basketball situation but fortunately Dino Rossi, who as a State Senator opposed equal employment rights for gays, still trailed Gregoire slightly.
In a Congressional race that the whole nation is watching, the incumbent Republican, Dave Reichert, failed to obtain over 50%. However, the Democrat challenger Darcy Burner still trailed him by 3% of the votes, setting up an important contest in November.
Republican Secretary of State Sam Reed, who has been given high ratings by gay groups, was leading all his opponents by a wide margin.
In a close race for State Treasurer Democrats could potentially lose this post come November. Republican Allan Martin actually leads Democrat Jim McIntire but by less than 5% in that race. Incumbent Democrat Michael Murphy is retiring.
Another interesting race for November, incumbent Republican Doug Sutherland led only 51% to 49% vs. Peter J. Goldmark for Commissioner of Public Lands in this Primary.
In Washington State Legislative Races:
Democrats were make a very strong showing in Spokane’s Republican 6th District. Not to be confused with Spokane’s Democratic 3rd District.
And take a look at this race in the 14th District. A Democrat is actually leading in Yakima. OK, so it’s a six-way primary free-for-all to replace the retiring Moderate Republican Mary Skinner. Will Vickie Ybarra be the first Democrat elected in the 14th District since 1982?
How about this race in the 17th District? The incumbent Republican is losing to another Republican. Jim Dunn is one my original Dirty Dozen anti-gay State Representatives from the mid-90’s who opposed everything gay. But it was probably the allegations of sexual harassment or maybe the vote against the very farmers he represents that had people like Clark County GOP committeeman Brent Boger publicly saying
I think he needs to finish his term and go. A lot of people think he has boorish behavior.
Good bye, Jim Dunn. It took way too long for you to lose but I am happy to witness it. Hopefully, the primary numbers continue to go against him.
Who could forget Richard Curtis, in the 18th District? After he opposed gay rights and voted against domestic partnerships, he had to step down after a scandal in Spokane involving young gay pornographer named Cody Castagna. His Republican replacement, Jaime Herrera, is winning in the primary with over 57% of the vote. Of course.
How about this race in the 25th District? Should be a nail biter.
How about this race in the 28th District? Now that’s a close race.
The city of Auburn and Enumclaw was giving gays the Big F-You as Republican Dan Roach, son of Senator Pam Roach, was winning with 55% of the vote in the 31st District.
Also unfortunate, in the 39th District, Concerned Women for America Republican Val Stevens was pulling in 55% of the vote.
Gay candidates were winning big around the State:
Dave Upthegrove (70%), Joe McDermott (100%), Jamie Pedersen (100%), Jim Moeller (65%) and Marko Liias (62%). Senator Ed Murray is not up for re-election this cycle.
In contested Judge races Supreme Court Justices Mary Fairhurst and Charles W. Johnson, both endorsed by Q-Law, garnered well over 50% in the Primary which means that they automatically win and do not need to run in the General Election.
On the Court of Appeals Robin Hunt and Kevin M. Korsmo, both given high marks by Q-Law, are leading their opponents.
And on the King County Superior Court, Jean Rietschel, the first openly lesbian judge in the state of Washington advances in a very close race to the General Election.
