Ryu says that ‘focused’ campaign won legislative election

By Evan Smith

ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer

Democrat Cindy Ryu attributes her victory over Republican Art Coday to a “focused” campaign and a “dedicated core of volunteers going neighborhood to neighborhood, block to block, door to door, to best understand the concerns of voters of the 32nd District and to ask for their support.”

“I believe this hard work paid off on Election Day.”

With nearly all general-election votes counted, Ryu leads Coday 61 percent to 39 percent, after leading him 42-38 in the August primary, meaning that Ryu picked up almost all the votes that went to losing Democratic primary candidate Doris McConnell who had taken 20 percent of the primary vote but declined to make an endorsement for the general election.

“Each city and neighborhood I visited during the six short months of campaigning were unique,” she said early Wednesday morning. “Yet we uniformly share support for our public schools, good governance, and a strong local economy.

“I think that this year voters were looking for a committed and results-oriented representative who was willing to roll up his or her sleeves and get the job done for the 32nd District.

“All my life I have worked hard to be involved and represent the values of a strong education system, accountable and transparent government and an economy that supports entrepreneurship and small business investment in order to help make our community and our lives better.”

Ryu defeated Coday for the State House seat that Democrat Maralyn Chase gave up to run for the State Senate.

In other 32nd District legislative races, Democrat Chase is leading Republican David Baker by a 50-40 margin, and incumbent Democratic State Rep. Ruth Kagi led Republican Gary Gagliardi, 64-35.

The results posted Wednesday include nearly all votes. King County had about 98 percent of the expected number of ballots. The few votes left to be counted include ballots returned for signature verification and some ballots coming from voters living, traveling, studying or serving in the military overseas.