Seattle Times endorses a write-in vote for Steve Hobbs for short term in 1st Congressional District

By Evan Smith

Our news partner, The Seattle Times, has endorsed a write-in vote for Democrat Steve Hobbs for the short term in the old 1st Congressional District. The Tuesday, Aug. 7, primary and Nov. 8 general election will fill the last month of the term that Jay Inslee left to run for governor.

Voters in Shoreline and the part of Lake Forest Park that were in the old 1st District are voting for both a full term in the new 7th District and the short term in the old 1st District.

The Times endorsed Hobbs for the full term in the new 1st District, which includes the inland areas of King, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties from North Bend to the Canadian border. Hobbs is one of five Democrats, two independents and Republican John Koster running for the full term in the new district but not among the 11 candidates for the short term in the old district.

“State Sen. Steve Hobbs, Democrat, has a demonstrated capacity to work across partisan lines under the most contentious circumstances. His skills and abilities are desperately needed in the U.S. Congress to represent this newly drawn district,” the Times editorial board said. “The editorial board further recommends Hobbs as a write-in candidate for the month of December only as a stand-in for the old 1st District, a seat previously held by Jay Inslee.

A write-in candidate could qualify for the general election by being one of the top two vote getters in the primary with at least 1 percent of the vote. That generally happens only when only one name is on the ballot and with candidates who have registered as write-in candidates, something that Hobbs did not do by the July 20 deadline.

A registered write-in candidate would have his votes counted even with minor misspellings or if the candidates’ party preference is incorrect or missing. Since Hobbs is not registered, votes for “Steve Hobbs,” “Steven Hobbs,” ” Steve Hobbs (Democrat),“ “Steve Hobbs (prefers Democratic Party),” “Steve Hobbs (prefers Democrat Party),” “Steve Hobbs (prefers Dem. Party)” and “Steven Hobbs (prefers D Party)” would count as votes for seven different people.

See the Times endorsement of Hobbs here.
See a summary of all Seattle Times endorsements here.