Getting up to speed on the WA-3 congressional race
Kari Chisholm
As you know, Congressman Brian Baird has announced his retirement from public office. His district, Washington's 3rd, stretches from Vancouver to Olympia - and west to the coast (map).
It's the only open congressional race within driving distance from Portland - and will feature a competitive primary election for both parties, and a tough swing-district campaign in the fall. (The Cook PVI is zero, meaning dead-even. In Oregon, the 5th is D+1, 4th is D+2, the 1st is D+8, the 3rd is D+19 - and the 2nd is R+10.)
We may be separated by the Great Wall of the Columbia, but this is a critical race for the Pacific Northwest and the metro area - and a targeted race nationally for both parties. Here's where the race stands now:
The leading Republican candidates include:
- David Castillo. His resume includes stints as an aide to the Washington House GOP, the Washington Citizens for a Sound Economy (now FreedomWorks), and in the Bush administration.
- Jaime Herrera. She's currently a state representative from Camas, and was previously an aide to Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Spokane). She appears to be the candidate that the NRCC is touting.
Another Republican, anti-gay activist and Washougal City Council member Jon Russell, dropped out on Tuesday and endorsed Herrera (and is running for her legislative seat.)
The leading Democratic candidates include:
- Denny Heck. Heck is best-known as the founder of TWV (Washington's C-SPAN) and was a state legislator in the 1970s and 1980s. He was chief of staff to Governor Booth Gardner - and has since made his fortune as a business investor in medical records, business services, and technology companies.
- Craig Pridemore. Pridemore is a second-term state senator from Vancouver who previously served as a Clark County Commissioner. In his first term, Pridemore earned the designation as "Environmental Legislator of the Year" from the Washington Conservation Voters (their OLCV).
Another Democrat, State Rep. Deb Wallace, dropped out on Sunday.
What else do we know? Heck has won the endorsement of Governor Chris Gregoire and former WA-3 Congressman Don Bonker. Pridemore earned the endorsement of BlueAmerica, the national netroots effort that raised over a half-million dollars in 2008 for progressive candidates (including Jeff Merkley and Darcy Burner.) BlueAmerica called Pridemore "a refreshing, unabashed progressive." Organized labor hasn't endorsed yet, but released a compilation of lifetime voting records - Pridemore scored 98% (2005-present) and Heck scored 72% (1977-84).
Here's the introductory videos from the two Democrats:
You can learn more at DennyHeckForCongress.com and CraigPridemore.com.
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12:44 p.m.
Feb 26, '10
Full disclosure: My firm is assisting Craig Pridemore with his social media and online advertising efforts (though we didn't build his website.) I speak only for myself.
Feb 26, '10
I volunteered for Sen. Pridemore when he ran to take a WA State Senate seat from the R's in 2004, when I lived in Vancouver; he's great!
The Great Wall of the Columbia is overrated; there were volunteers from OR canvassing in that election, and Sec. Bradbury lent support to the grassroots campaign I worked in support of Howard Dean back then. The good ol' days!
Feb 26, '10
I'm a big fan of both D's personally, but am leaning Heck.
Feb 26, '10
Denny Hack is the perfect candidate for the Max Baucus, Kurt Conrad, Ron Wyden "do anything but support the Democratic proposal" wing of the party. Craig Pridemore is a lot like Jeff Merkley in attitude.
Them's your choices, 'Couverites.
Course, there's a pretty big "We would vote for the reanimated corpse of Ronald Reagan" contingent up there too -- they might go for this Jaime gal as the next best thing to St. Linda Smith, whom they are sure will go to heaven and be with Ronnie again in eternity. So the Dems really better go with the guy who, you know, has actually won some elections since the time that Tom Foley was a going concern.
Feb 26, '10
How many US congress members from the NW are from minority groups?
Feb 26, '10
Well, DeFazio and Merkley are the only two members of "Democrats who stand up for Democratic proposals," so I'd say they're in a pretty darn small minority.
Or were you suggesting we care about the wrapping over the substance? 'Cause that's a terrible mistake -- gets us all kinds of DINOs.
Feb 26, '10
I believe David Wu is the only one, unless you go into Northern California and count Matsui too.
Feb 27, '10
Denny Heck will pull a fairly strong crossover from moderate Republicans and with his corporate connections (and personal wealth) he would be able to outspend anybody. He was a moderate Dem when he served in the WA legislature but those were the days of Dixie Lee (Nuke'm) Ray and John (Boring) Spellman as Governor. From what I can tell, since he left the legislature Denny has become a big fan of making money more than he is a fan of any particular political position. Bill Clinton without the Arkansas drawl?
Craig Pridemore is a very progressive guy who really works to protect the poor and lower middle class. His voice was pretty much the only voice on the Clark County Board of Commissioners who spoke (unsuccessfully) against uncontrolled subdivision growth in east and northeast Vancouver. But as much as I like Craig's policies, I strongly question whether he can attain the inside track on fundraising, especially at the schmoozing national corporate level that will probably be required.
I don't know Castillo, but after listening to Ms. Herrera a few times, I believe it would be an insult to rocks if I called her "dumb as a rock", but she is.
Feb 27, '10
What a great comment:
All nominal Democrats who complain about the role of money in politics, please exit to the right -- no matter who is nominated, there will be enough money for the Dem to be competitive in a competitive swing district in an election when the Empire wants to strike back and regain control of the wheel so they drive the country even further into the ditch.
Anyone who would support Denny Hack because Craig is too good on the issues (and will therefore not be a money grubbing DINO like Hack) should just say "I really don't want a Democrat in the seat."
What is it with Democrats? Why are they so unwilling to take their own side in a struggle?
Feb 27, '10
We may be separated by the Great Wall of the Columbia, but this is a critical race for the Pacific Northwest and the metro area - and a targeted race nationally for both parties. Here's where the race stands now:
Why?
Jaime Herrera. She's currently a state representative from Camas,
Figures. As native Americans might remind us, little comes of camas but flatulence.
Mar 1, '10