The number one pick is on Tuesday. And a career that draws a lot of attention, and a lot of money, is the state Senate competition in the 5th district centered on Issaquah.
It’s a fight between two Democrats that has noticed more than $1.2 million raised.
(To see who raised the money, go to the Public Disclosure Commission’s online page here and LEG DISTRICT 05 – SENATE).
C.R. Douglas with Q13 News and Joni Balter of “Civic Cocktail” on the Seattle Channel joined Angela King of KUOW.
Angela King: What do you think of this expensive Senate race, where there are no Republicans on the ballot?
Joni Balter: This is a race between Democratic incumbent Mark Mullet and Democratic challenger Ingrid Anderson, and as you say, not Republicans, which is wild. It’s not like it’s downtown Seattle, where two Democrats are expected to appear on the ballot. These eastern suburbs were once almaximum Republicans. This program shows how much the suburbs are changing. Every time Microsoft hires new employees, employees, I guess it’s probably two Democrats for one. That bodes well for Democratic Congressman Kim Schrier in the 8th Congressional District in the same general area. This race is the most beloved to date and can be even more. But that’s not close to the $9 million spent in the 2017 special election that made us take control of the state Senate.
So, C.R., what does this mean politically within the party?
C.R. Douglas: This is the local edition of Split in the Democratic Party that we have noticed nationally between Sanders progressives and Biden moderates. Obviously, Biden won that fight. But here, where we haven’t yet had our primary status, we still see that dynamic in this case, and in the progressive challengers driving capital gains taxes and other increases in the source of income and expenses. Mullet, the incumbent operator, is more moderate and has opposed more taxes and expenses. So, it’s a pretty smart department microcosm within the Democratic Party along the line.
Let’s take a look at the point of the city right now. Next week will be a wonderful week politically. On Wednesday, Seattle City Council kicks off a long-awaited initial vote on the police budget. Will the branch protect 50%, as almost every board member has promised?
Balter: No, because it’s very unlikely you will, especially in August, when you’ve already spent a lot of cash of the year. Do these overly competitive demonstrations are ad applied to the spaces of board members who did not settle for the precise 50% reduction? Yes, I know the protesters also went to the homes of the council members that 50%. I saw one in Tammy Morales, but the tone was different. I was horrified by what happened at Councilor Debora Juarez’s house, where they painted streets and shouted disgusting and misogistic things. They honed the horns of his car, lit lighting artifacts in his space and that of Councilman Alex Peterson defeated at night. I mean, come on, protest in the public sphere all day. But when did Seattle become so intolerant?
Douglas: What has been appealing about this is how some board members who supported 50% relief already rate those promises, without explicitly canceling them, but obviously laying the groundwork on recent statements to approve them more slowly because they know it will be difficult. But what needs to be taken into account, I think, is how lenient the network of activists with a budget will be next week that does not meet what it demanded, which I think is very likely. Will council members who have so far supported them, or are they activists who will persecute and duplicate these demonstrations, join them?
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