Democrats in 32nd District endorse neither Kagi nor challenger

By Evan Smith

Democrats in the 32nd Legislative District have endorsed neither incumbent Democratic State Rep. Ruth Kagi nor Democratic challenger Wesley Irwin for the position that Kagi has held for nine two-year terms.

Neither Kagi nor Irwin got the necessary 60 percent of votes from 32nd District precinct committee officers and dues-paying members who attended the June 8 District Democratic endorsement meeting.

Democrats who didn’t support Kagi said they opposed her vote to provide money to keep charter schools open after the State Supreme Court had declared public charter schools unconstitutional.

Kagi, Irwin, Republican David Schirle and Libertarian Alex Hart are running for the position on the Aug. 2 primary ballot, with the top two candidates, regardless of party, qualifying for the November general-election ballot.

Democrats in the 32nd District did endorse Kagi’s fellow Democratic 32nd District state representative, Cindy Ryu, who spoke on Kagi’s behalf.

Kagi is chairwoman of the State House committee on early learning and social services and is a member of the House Appropriations Committee. Ryu is chairwoman of the House committee on housing and tribal affairs, and a member of the committee on business and financial services, the Community Development Committee and the Finance Committee.

The 32nd District includes the city of Shoreline and part of northwest Seattle, Woodway and nearby unincorporated areas of Snohomish County, south Edmonds, Lynnwood and part of Mountlake Terrace.

For the open 7th District congressional seat, the 32nd Legislative District Democrats endorsed Pramila Jayapal. Jayapal is one of five Democrats, along with two Republicans and two independents, running for the congressional seat that longtime U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott is giving up.

The 7th Congressional District includes Shoreline, Lake Forest Park Edmonds, Woodway and nearby unincorporated areas, most of Seattle and some of Seattle’s southwest suburbs.

The 32nd Legislative District Democrats gave dual endorsements to Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor Karen Fraser and Cyrus Habib and to Democratic candidates for state treasurer John Comerford and Alec Fisken.

District Democrats split their endorsement for the non-partisan office of state superintendent of public instruction among three candidates -- David Spring, Chris Reykdal and Erin Jones.

Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.