NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS | July 15, 2016 | PAGE 5
SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON POLITICS
Labor sees possible gains in Washington’s Aug. 2 primary
In Washington’s primary, much
of the labor movement’s atten-
tion is focused on the most com-
petitive races, including several
state legislative races where vot-
ers could increase the number of
pro-labor Democrats in office.
Governor: Labor-backed incum-
bent Democrat Jay Inslee faces
Republican businessman (and
Seattle port commissioner) Bill
Bryant and nine others. Bryant
is backed by several business
groups, including Associated
General Contractors and Na-
tional Electrical Contractors As-
sociation (NECA).
Lieutenant governor: Of 11
candidates, three are Democrats
who have at least some support
from labor. Bellevue state Sen.
Cyrus Habib, current Demo-
cratic Whip, lists the most labor
support, with endorsements
from 24 labor organizations in-
cluding the Washington State
Labor Council (WSLC), AFL-
CIO. [WSLC’s endorsement
means support from union affil-
iates representing at least two-
thirds of the labor federation’s
membership.] Lake Stevens state
Sen. Steve Hobbs lists endorse-
ments from 19 labor organiza-
tions, mostly building trades
unions and councils who appre-
ciate his backing for transporta-
tion projects. But Hobbs has also
antagonized some in labor, par-
ticularly public employee
unions. He founded the Roadkill
Caucus, a faction of conservative
Democrats, and got a committee
chairmanship when Republicans
took control of the state Senate
in 2012. Longtime Lacey state
Sen. Karen Fraser lists 11 labor
endorsements.
Congressional District 3 : Jim
Moeller, a seven-term Demo-
cratic state Rep. from Vancou-
ver, is one of five challengers to
Republican Jaime Herrera Beut-
ler. He has a 91 percent lifetime
rating from the WSLC and is
backed by WSLC, Amalga-
mated Transit Union, and Fire
Fighters Local 452.
Senate District 17: Labor hopes
Tim Probst can retake the for-
merly Democratic East Vancou-
ver seat now held by Republican
Don Benton. Probst lost to Ben-
ton four years ago by less than
80 votes; Benton isn’t running,
so Probst now faces GOP state
Rep. Lynda Wilson. If Democ-
rats win for Probst and one other
pickup, the party could retake
the Senate and end the gridlock
that has made it near-impossible
to pass any meaningful legisla-
tion since 2012.
In Washington’s primary, the
top two candidates go on to No-
vember, regardless of party. Bal-
lots are due Aug. 2.