In a year when Republicans are on the prowl for seats in both houses of our state legislature, incumbent Democrats face yet another challenge.
Democrats.
PubliCola has reported extensively on Lillian Kaufer’s lefty challenge against incumbent Democrat Steve Hobbs (D-44 ). But in the 38th district (Everett, Marysville, Tulalip) incumbent Democratic Sen. Jean Berkey faces a challenger with even more street cred (and money) than Kaufer: Nick Harper.
He’s definitely coming at Berkey from the left. Yesterday, Harper pulled down the the endorsement from the progressives at the Washington Bus. And last week, the Washington State Labor Council (WSLC) endorsed him. (The endorsement came late in the game because Harper entered the race a little late, making his endorsement a special consideration outside of WSLC’s endorsement convention). Kathy Cummings, Communications Director for the WSLC, said they endorsed Harper because “he’s a champion of working families.” (Frankly, when PubliCola asked Harper about specific labor proposals, he was shy on examples. He did say that he signed I-1098, the higher earner’s income tax initiative.)
And they contrasted him with his opponent, saying that Berkey is out of touch with labor concerns. “She cut funding for public education and public health care,” Cummings says in a broadside against the Democratic budget, which the WSLC felt was undermined by conservative Democrats in the so-called Roadkill Caucus. “She voted to end unemployment benefits. She opposed ending an out-of-state bank tax credit. She’s put the needs of big business before the needs of working families in our district.”
Berkey’s PDC reports lend some credence to that—Bank of America, Wells Fargo, BNSF, Liberty Mutual, and Wal Mart have all contributed.
Harper has raised over $21,000 this cycle compared with incumbent Sen. Jean Berkey’s $61,000. And while the fundraising difference seems extreme, it’s not anywhere near as large as the Kaufer/Hobbs split, who have raised $12,000 and $146,000 respectively. Even more important: The PI’s Strange Bedfellows reported today that the WSLC’s Don’t Invest in More Excuses PAC has nearly $900,000. If they live up to their threats to spend against Democrats this cycle, Harper will be able to keep up with Berkey.
Still, Harper minimized the importance of money in a campaign. “I went into this race believing that Berkey would raise more money than me.”
Harper said that he’s pounding the pavement to make up the difference. “I’ve knocked on four thousand doors. Through the Primary, I plan to knock on fifteen thousand. No one else in this race will match that kind of voter contact.”
Berkey has not returned our call.
State Sen. Ed Murray (D-43, Seattle) is the chair of the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, and supports Berkey, but acknowledged that she has been more moderate than organizations like the WSLC would like. “On the campaign side, we will be supportive of her. Jean has been progressive on social issues, and less progressive on business/labor issues.”
And there’s a larger question regarding resources, and Democratic chances in November. Murray worries that if both Harper and Berkey advance to the general election (as the home-turf Everett Herald anticipates), it will funnel money into a race that should be a safe Democratic seat anyway. “A lot of money will be drained away from other Democratic races across the state.”
