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Brad Shannon maintains this blog. He is political editor at The Olympian and can be reached at 360-753-1688 or bshannon@theolympian.com.
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Rep. DeBolt emerges again as top dog in House GOP caucus
It never hurts to win, and if those rumors of dissension in the House Republican Caucus were ever true, Rep. Richard DeBolt has put them away.
DeBolt won re-election today in Cle Elum to another two-year term as leader of the minority caucus in the House. He’ll hold the job for another two years. It doesn’t hurt that he appears to have secured a net gain of one seat in the House — reducing Democrats’ huge majority to 62-36.
Meeting separately at SeaTac, Senate Republicans voted to keep Sen. Mike Hewitt of Walla Walla as their leader. South Sound Sen. Dan Swecker, R-Rochester, lost his position as deputy caucus chairman to Sen. Cheryl Pflug, R-Maple Valley, but Swecker could not be reached to say if he gave up the position voluntarily.
The gain in the House for the Republicans is their first since they swept to a majority in the 1994 election. In the Senate, Democrats outnumber Republicans by 31 to 18, despite gaining a seat when challenger Randi Becker of Eatonville beat Democratic Sen. Marilyn Rasmussen.
The House GOP position could worsen or get better if Rep. John Ahern overcomes a 63-vote deficit behind Democratic challenger John Driscoll in Spokane’s 6th district. Ahern had been closing in on a succession of vote counts, but recently fell back.
Also, the GOP is watching to see that challenger Mike Hope’s 98-vote edge over Democratic Rep. Liz Loomis holds up in the 44th district near Everett.
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Revenue forecast knocks out $1.9 billion, prompts new look for cuts
The slowing economy has knocked $1.9 billion from the state’s expected revenues through mid-2011 and poked an immediate hole in state coffers.
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U.S. Rep. Smith keeps money-raising role with NewDems
U.S. Rep. Adam Smith retained his role as PAC leader for the New Democratic Coalition in the House today.
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BLUMENTHAL: U.S. Sen. Murray re-elected to No. 4 leadership job
This just came in from Les Blumenthal, our McClatchy associate in Washington, D.C.: The Senate Democrats have finished meeting and Washington Sen. Patty Murray has been re-elected conference secretary.
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Speculation starts early for 2010 US Senate race vs. Murray
It seems awfully early to worry about who could run for statewide races in 2010, but that hasn’t stopped one blogger. Here’s some interesting speculation at The Next Right, for instance, on who might take on U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, who is well into her third term.
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UPDATED: Thurston treasurer Hunt to aid state treasurer-elect's transition
State treasurer-elect Jim McIntire has tabbed Thurston County treasurer Robin Hunt to serve as one of 14 members of his transition team.
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Sen. Ed Murray moves up to No. 2 in Senate Demo Caucus
State Sen. Ed Murray is replacing longtime Sen. Harriet Spanel as the Senate Democratic Caucus’ chairman, the group’s No. 2 leadership position.
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I-1029 sets apparent record with 2 million votes
Initiative 1029 for homecare worker training received more than 2 million votes — and counting — in the Nov. 4 election.
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Bloggers, email lobbyists catching eye of regulators
Don't expect bloggers to go quietly into the night on this fight. If there is a fight.
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State voter turnout inches toward an all-time record
Washington’s voter turnout is inching toward 3 million and is assured of passing that mark for the first time in history, state elections officials now say.
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REVISED: Supreme Court OKs sanctions in Chehalis tribal fishing case
The state Supreme Court today agreed to impose limits on the on-reservation fishing activities of a Chehalis tribe member who was convicted of illegal fishing off the reservation.
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Campaign memo: Gregoire team knew she was going to win
Gov. Chris Gregoire’s campaign managers knew she would win this time around, and that it wouldn’t be close. That's what their polls, which they never disclosed publicly, were showing.
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House Democrats stick with leaders who crafted their majority
Looks like House Democrats are sticking with the formula that got them a sizable majority in the Legislature. More than 50 members of the caucus met at the Capitol on Sunday and re-elected Speaker Frank Chopp, Majority Leader Lynn Kessler and other top leaders.
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Sutherland clings to hope in lands commissioner race
Democrat Peter Goldmark and his environmental backers have declared victory in the state lands commissioner race. But not so fast, says Republican incumbent Doug Sutherland.
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UPDATED: Democrats eye net loss of 2-3 legislative seats
Additional vote counting late Friday and over the weekend has reversed the apparent outcome of a few legislative races. Overall, this leaves Republicans positioned for a net gain of one seat each in the state House and Senate.
