Evan Smith: Ryu expects Democrats to come together for general election

By Evan Smith

ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer

Democratic State Representative candidate Cindy Ryu said Thursday that she expects 32nd District Democrats to come together to help her win the November general election.

Ryu, a former Shoreline City councilwoman and mayor, was the top vote getter in the Tuesday primary, getting 42 percent of the vote to 38 percent for Republican Art Coday, her general-election opponent, and 20 percent for Democrat Doris McConnell, a current Shoreline councilwoman.

The 32nd Legislative District includes Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore and the Finn Hill area of unincorporated King County near Kirkland. In Snohomish County, it includes Woodway, south Edmonds and unincorporated Esperance.

King County’s countywide voter turnout was more than 32 percent Thursday, compared to the 45 percent that officials had projected. The Thursday King County count includes ballots that had arrived at the County elections office by Wednesday morning.

In Snohomish County, voter turnout was 29 percent, compared to an expected 41 percent. The count includes ballots that arrived at the County auditor’s office by Wednesday afternoon.

Ryu and Coday are running for the seat that Democrat Maralyn Chase is vacating to run for the State Senate.

“Our district cast over 61 percent of its votes for Democrats in this race, and we have a record of coming together after a primary to support the Democratic winner in the general election.” Ryu said. “Both of our sitting State representatives, Maralyn Chase and Ruth Kagi, have endorsed my campaign for State Representative Position 1, as have former holders of this position, Donn Charnley and Nancy Rust.”

She added, “As before the primary, we are going to continue talking to voters in every part of our community and listening to their concerns”

While Ryu mentioned support from Reps. Chase and Kagi and former Reps. Charnley and Rust, she didn’t mention State Sen. Darlene Fairley who endorsed McConnell in the primary. I was unable to reach Coday, Fairley or McConnell Friday evening.

The vote count as of Thursday afternoon:

Candidate (Party preference) Votes Percent

Art Coday (R)                                9,906 votes,   37.64%

Cindy Ryu (D)                              11,076 votes,   42.09%

Doris Fujioka McConnell (D)            5,335 votes,   20.27 %

Total Votes                                    26,317 votes, 100.00%