LD47

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).

The Seattle Times' David Postman is reporting that the domestic violence charges against state Rep. Geoff Simpson (D-Covington) have been dropped, just as Simpson predicted at the time.

"The unwarranted charges that were brought against me recently have been entirely dropped due to there being no evidence of any wrongdoing," Simpson said in an e-mail to supporters.