State Political Profile: Washington
U.S. Senate
Washington's premier political race pits freshman Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell and her likely GOP challenger, business leader and former Senate aide Mike McGavick.
Cantwell has angered some in her party by her support for the Iraq war, and she has drawn a primary challenger, Mark Wilson, who describes himself as a "peace and justice candidate" and Cantwell as a captive of the monied elite and the pro-war faction.
Cantwell is expected to dispatch the poorly financed upstart, but her race against McGavick is expected to be tighter. McGavick has resigned as chairman and CEO of Safeco, a Fortune 500 insurance giant headquartered in Seattle, to run. He is wealthy and is expected to partially finance his own campaign, as dot-com millionaire Cantwell did in 2000.
McGavick hasn't held office, but is well connected in Republican circles and with national Republicans from his work as former campaign chairman and top aide to the senator Cantwell edged out of office in 2000, Slade Gorton.
Both parties have targeted the race, with Republicans viewing Washington as an opportunity to pick off a vulnerable Democrat and expand their Senate majority. Democrats, proud that Washington is the first state to have Democratic women in both Senate seats and the governor's mansion, are anxious to re-elect Cantwell.
Recent polls showed Cantwell ahead by between 11 and 15 percentage points.
U.S. House
Washington's congressional delegation -- six Democrats and three Republicans -- is expected to stay unchanged.
The one exception could be the seat held by freshman Republican Rep. Dave Reichert, who succeeded veteran Republican Jennifer Dunn in the 8th District. Although the district, in the eastern suburbs of Seattle, has never elected a Democrat, presidential candidate John Kerry and other Democrats have won there in recent years. Democrats haven't settled on a nominee, but Microsoft millionaire Darcy Burner has announced her candidacy.
Democrats are scouting for opponents for the other freshman Republican, Cathy McMorris in the 5th District, and 4th District Republican Doc Hastings, who has been criticized for his handling of the House Ethics Committee.
Republicans are scouting for challengers, and are particularly enthused about the 2nd District where former Navy commander and Everett businessman Doug Roulstone is contesting the seat held by Democrat Rick Larsen. House Speaker Dennis Hastert and former gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi recently headlined a fund-raiser in the district, which stretches north from Everett to the Canadian border.
Legislature
Democrats control both chambers and most analysts believe they will be able to hang on this fall, when the entire 98-member House and half of the 49-member Senate will be on the ballot. Republicans thought they had a sure-fire campaign issuea 9-cent gas tax increase that Democrats pushed through last year -- but voters turned down an initiative that would have rolled back the $5.5 billion increase. This year, Republicans have criticized Democrats' handing of sex predator legislation and gay rights.
-- Associated Press
