LD44

Washington State Republican Party Chair Luke Esser weighed in on state legislative district politics yesterday, telling PolitickerWA.com which seats he thought were ripe for the picking.

In the state Senate, Esser said Republicans had very strong chances for pickups in the 2nd and 25th Legislative Districts. The 2nd District, which covers portions of rural Pierce and Thurston Counties, has Republican Randi Becker (R-Graham) taking on Democratic Sen. Marilyn Rasmussen (D-Eatonville), and in the 25th, which also covers eastern Pierce County, Michele Smith (R-Puyallup) is challenging Sen. Jim Kastama (D-Puyallup).

For the state House, Esser singled out Rep. Don Barlow's (D-Spokane) seat in the 6th Legislative District, retiring Rep. Patricia Lantz' (D-Port Orchard) seat in the 26th, retiring Rep. Fred Jarrett (D-Mercer Island) in LD41, Rep. Liz Loomis (D-Snohomish) in the 44th, Rep. Roger Goodman (D-Kirkland) in the 45th District, and 47th District Rep. Geoff Simpson (D-Covington).

U.S. Rep. Rick LarsenDENVER - Congressman Rick Larsen (D-Arlington) sees the results of his "top two" primary race as good news for local Democrats in Northwest Washington. Larsen led the four candidate field with just under 55 percent of the vote, leading his general election opponent Rick Bart (R-Arlington) by seventeen points. Two other Democratic challengers, Doug Schaffer and Glen S. Johnson, received five and three percent of the vote, respectively.

"I feel good about the results of the primary," Larsen said, adding that it felt like vindication for the work he had done on behalf of veterans in his own race.

Besides that, he was also very confident about a lot of the legislative district races in the northwest corner of the state.

"I want to mention a few," he told PolitickerWA.com earlier this week. "Liz Loomis in the 44th is a targeted seat by both parties. Having a good Democratic turnout is important for her and she came out ahead in the primary."

Rep. Hans DunsheeThe Herald's Jerry Cornfield has the story on Rep. Hans Dunshee recent medical woes. He got a bad infection from a cut on his leg recently, and it was bad enough to hospitalize him and will cause him to miss this week's nominating convention in the 44th District.

Read his letter to supporters after the break.