Evan Smith: Rep. Kagi won’t run for Senate

By Evan Smith

ShorelineAreaNews Politics writer

State Rep, Ruth Kagi told me late Monday that she won’t run for the 32nd District State Senate seat that Sen. Darlene Fairley is vacating.

Last week, the 32nd District Democratic Committee voted to nominate Rep. Maralyn Chase for the Senate, former Shoreline Mayor Cindy Ryu for Chase’s House seat and Kagi for re-election to the House.

Meanwhile, State Senate Democrats were pressuring Kagi to run for the Senate. A week ago, she was weighing the Senate run against a safe re-election run for the House, where she is an Influential member.

She sent me this note Monday:

“After careful consideration and many conversations with thoughtful friends and colleagues, I have concluded that it does not make sense to give up chairmanship of the early learning and children's services committee and the seniority I have in the House to run for the Senate. My current position allows me to provide leadership at the state and national level on a range of children's and education issues”