WA-03: Wallace to Jump in for Dems

It looks like the Democrats aren’t wasting any time lining up a successor to retiring Rep. Brian Baird either:

The party quickly landed a well-regarded candidate in state Rep. Deb Wallace, who announced her campaign this morning. A legislator with experience winning in the most politically-competitive part of the district (Clark County), she sports high marks from the National Rifle Association and environmental groups alike….

In a brief interview with POLITICO hours after Baird’s announcement, Van Hollen singled out Wallace as a “terrific candidate” with other Democratic candidates likely to enter the race.

The article makes clear that the “other candidates” are state Sen. Mike Craig Pridemore and state Rep. Brendan Williams, both of whom were repeatedly mentioned yesterday — meaning we could be looking at a contested primary. Wallace, who represents the swingy (R+1) 17th LD in Vancouver’s suburbs, sounds reminscent of pro-gun, pro-environment ex-Rep. Jolene Unsoeld, who represented the 3rd from 1988 until getting wiped out in 1994. (Pridemore and Williams are from bluer turf — Pridemore from central Vancouver, and Williams from Olympia.)

RaceTracker Wiki: WA-03

74 thoughts on “WA-03: Wallace to Jump in for Dems”

  2. The Columbian in Vancouver, endorsing her re-election last year, wrote: http://www.columbian.com/artic…

    “Versatility and dedication have marked Wallace’s three terms as state representative. Since emerging as a Democratic Dunn-beater in 2002, Wallace has excelled, first, in transportation issues and, in the past two sessions, in education matters. She has chaired the Higher Education Committee.”

    Additional color on the district – http://blog.seattlepi.com/seat…

    The 3rd District’s most famous member of Congress was the late Rep. Julia Butler Hansen from Cathlamet, often nicknamed “the little old lady in loggers boots.”

  4. One thing that’s heartening about these retirements is that (KS-03 excepted) good, experienced, competitive candidates have immediately stepped up for Dems. If local politicos think they can win in their individual districts in 2010 to the point where they’re willing to risk their political careers, that’s a good sign. Besides, in an anti-incumbent cycle (as I bet 2010 will be) getting a fresh face could turn out to be a good thing.  

  6. I’m really not sure it’s true.  Sure, we need to get our base motivated, if, for nothing else, to fix the mess that is the U.S. Senate, but when it comes down to actual seats and numbers I don’t see much reason to panic.  I think we can hold his one-Wallace looks like a great candidate.  I’m even more impressed with Tanner in Tennessee.  You know, sometimes I think the majority of Democrats need prescription sedatives…

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