Darcy v. Rodney takes shape

Earlier today, Senator Rodney Tom confirmed rumours that he will be running for Congress from the 8th district next year. He joins a race that already contains Darcy Burner, last year's Democratic nominee, and starts off as a likely underdog against her. Tom kicked off his campaign at Renton Technical College with Eastide Reps. Deb Eddy and Larry Springer appearing with him, saying that he has the experience to beat two-term Congressman Dave Reichert. The seat has yet to elect a Democrat to Congress, but Reichert has won close contests both times he has run.

I supported Reichert in last year's campaign as he was the more moderate candidate of the two that was closer to my personal ideology. However, with a bona fide moderate like Senator Tom in the race I now have my candidate for 2008.

Two more Democratic challengers for Reichert -- sort of

According to Postman's two Democratic state legislators are considering facing Dave Reichert next year: Senator Rodney Tom and Rep. Christopher Hurst. Although Darcy Burner is once again running, and probably once again losing as she surely did not fix her experience issue in the five months she hasn't been running, both these legislators provide Democrats capable centrists with experience.

Tom, as we all should know by now, won last year's marquee legislative contest against then-Senator Luke Esser, who has since taken over the GOP's busted party machinery. A former liberal Republican from Bellevue, Tom would offer name recognition in the most populous and important region of the 8th Congressional district. Also, being that Tom's seat isn't up until 2010, he could seek the Democratic nomination without having to give up his seat in the Senate.

Hurst, in contrast, represents a solid GOP-leaner in the House and it also sits in the heart of Reichert's geographical base. In 2006, Burner virtually tied Reichert in King County, but he easily defeated her in the rural Pierce County portion of the district. This could make him a very attractive potential candidate for Democrats, as well as his integrity, as evidenced by that he retired from the House for several terms while his daughter was in high school. He returned as she finished and defeated a tough incumbent and is now serving his third term. One potential problem for a Hurst candidacy is his sketchy record on social issues, especially on the question of gay rights. The state's premier gay rights advocacy group, Equal Rights Washington, endorsed Hurst's GOP opponent last year as a result of her moderate record on these issues and the lack of commitment to them by Hurst. Democrats in a socially moderate-liberal swing district like the 8th may be loath to nominate a candidate who is at the very least a social moderate like Reichert.

One legislator who was previously rumoured to be considering a run has apparently ruled it out due to a remission of cancer. Rep. Ross Hunter, who I'm convinced would have defeated Reichert had he run in 2006, seems to have once again had his political career stalled by illness. Best wishes for a full recovery, Ross.