LD26

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 26th Legislative District Democrats met Tuesday in Port Orchard to endorse statewide Democrats and local state House incumbent for position 2 Rep. Larry Seaquist (D-Gig Harbor) and candidate for position 1 Kim Abel (D-Port Orchard).

Then, using the platform of a captive audience of like-minded voters, the 26th Dems took some time not just to endorse their own, but to mock their opponents. Actors portrayed Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi and 26th LD House candidates Jan Angel and Marlyn Jensen, spoofing their policies on things like development, health care and education as well as Rossi's and Angel's choice to use the term GOP instead of Republican on the "top two" primary ballot.

Steven Gardner of the Kitsap Sun covered the event and has video of the performances here.

The 26th Legislative District covers Gig Harbor, the Key Peninsula and Southern Kitsap County, and with those places a mixture of affluent commuters, retirees, rural small business owners and navy personnel. The area, represented in Congress by stalwart Democrat Norm Dicks, currently has a full legislative slate of Democrats.

In 2006 the district elected its Representatives with more Jan Angelthan 55% of the vote, but in 2004 each race had a razor-thin one percent margin. This time around local Republicans have a good feeling about their chances to use the 26th to make a dent in Olympia's Democratic majority. The Senate seat is off this year, and the GOP has recruited Kitsap County Commissioner Jan Angel (R-Port Orchard) and longtime Republican activist Marlyn Jensen (R-Gig Harbor) to seek the two House seats.