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It's a Tie!

News   July 2, 2009 at 12:41 pm Josh Feit

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PubliCola has been theorizing (pontificating even) that South King County is key to the race between the four Democrats angling to make it through the primary in the King County Executive’s race. (Conventional wisdom has it that former KIRO-TV anchor Susan Hutchison, the Republican in the “non-partisan” top-two primary, will go through.)

Last night, the final south end district to endorse—the 30th District (Federal Way)—gave its sole endorsement to King County Council Member Dow Constantine.

So, in the fight for the coveted south county, here’s the final tally:

The 5th (Sammamish, Maple Valley, Snoqualmie): King County Council Member Larry Phillips

The 11th (Burein, Sea-Tac, Tukwila, Renton): Constantine, Phillips, and State Rep. Ross Hunter

The 30th (Federal Way): Constantine

The 31st (Enumclaw area): Phillips

The 33rd (Kent, Des Moines, Normandy Park, Sea-Tac): Constantine

The 47th (Southeast King County from Renton to Black Diamond): Constantine and Phillips

That’s a tie: Constantine 4 to Phillips 4.

The more conservative Democrats in the race,  State Rep. Ross Hunter and State Sen. Fred Jarrett, aren’t doing so well with endorsements in South King County’s exurban, big box, and working class turf. Hunter shared the 11th district with Constantine and Phillips. And that’s it.


  • south county

    Constantine got a sole endorsement from his home district, the 34th, which straddles Seattle and South King County (Vashon, Burien, North Highline). The 5th is primarily East King and the 31st is half in Pierce County. I’d say Constantine came out well ahead in South King County with sole endorsements from two of the three districts that are entirely in South King (30th, 33rd), while the third all-South district (47th) split its endorsement.

  • south county

    Constantine got a sole endorsement from his home district, the 34th, which straddles Seattle and South King County (Vashon, Burien, North Highline). The 5th is primarily East King and the 31st is half in Pierce County. I’d say Constantine came out well ahead in South King County with sole endorsements from two of the three districts that are entirely in South King (30th, 33rd), while the third all-South district (47th) split its endorsement.

  • south county

    Constantine got a sole endorsement from his home district, the 34th, which straddles Seattle and South King County (Vashon, Burien, North Highline). The 5th is primarily East King and the 31st is half in Pierce County. I’d say Constantine came out well ahead in South King County with sole endorsements from two of the three districts that are entirely in South King (30th, 33rd), while the third all-South district (47th) split its endorsement.

  • Bigdeal

    Interesting take- but how much do regular voters care about LD democrat endorsements? I think Larry has in roads in South King because he is a labor guy and supports family wage jobs for King County. Dow has inroads there because he already represents that area. If it’s a tie- then isn’t larry wiining if you assume he’ll carry his own district on top of half of the south?

  • Bigdeal

    Interesting take- but how much do regular voters care about LD democrat endorsements? I think Larry has in roads in South King because he is a labor guy and supports family wage jobs for King County. Dow has inroads there because he already represents that area. If it's a tie- then isn't larry wiining if you assume he'll carry his own district on top of half of the south?