As we’ve noted a couple of times now, the Democratic majority in the state house of representatives has shrunk. It used to be 61-37 and now, after last month’s election and a few recounts, it’s 56-42.
The spin from Democrats—liberal Democrats, anyway—is this: The delegation is no longer watered down with folks who have a “D” by their name, but aren’t really liberal or progressive. So, instead of having to compromise the progressive agenda in their own caucus, the Democrats can now come out strong with a unified, progressive agenda. Think of it as a Democratic demiglace—like when you boil beef stock down to its essence.
This is the spin I heard at the Washington Bus holiday party last Thursday night on Capitol Hill, anyway. “It was a fluke that we had some of those seats anyway,” one lefty activist told me as the shots of tequila were being passed around, referring to the conservative districts that Democrats managed to pick up in the blue waves of 2006 and 2008.
It’s true that a number of conservative-y districts changed hands from Democratic to Republican—moderate Democrats Dawn Morrell (D-25), John Driscoll (D-6), and Kelli Linville (D-42) all lost to Republicans.
So, while that means three more Republicans in the house, it does pump up the theory that there are fewer conservatives in the majority caucus.
Specifically, it equals three fewer conservative votes in the Democratic caucus.
Another seat from a red-ish district that went to Republican was Geoff Simpson’s (D-47) seat. However, Simpson may have been the most progressive member of the caucus, so that actually works against the theory that the caucus is now more progressive.
Net, two fewer conservative votes.
Meanwhile, conservative Democrat Deb Wallace (D-17) retired and was replaced by a Republican.
So, that’s back to three fewer conservative votes in the Democratic caucus.
Meanwhile, four other moderate-to-conservative Democrats who all retired—Dave Quall (D-40), Lynn Kessler (D-24), Al O’Brien (D-1), and Mark Ericks (D-1) were replaced by more liberal-leaning Democrats Kristine Lytton, Steve Tharinger, Derek Stanford, and Luis Moscoso, respectively.
Net, four more left-leaning votes.
Finally, outspoken liberal Brendan Williams (D-22) retired in disgust. He was replaced by Democrat Chris Reykdal. Still, chalk this one up as a loss for the progressive cause.
Net, three more left leaning votes.
There were also three liberal reps who moved to the senate: Sharon Nelson (D-34), Scott White (D-46), and Maralyn Chase (D-32). They were all replaced by solid Democrats, progressives Joe Fitzgibbon and David Frockt, and Dem Cindy Ryu. I will say, Chase was left-of-the-dial, out there with Simpson and Williams as the caucus’ Bernie Sanders brigade.
So, I’d say, net loss of one left-leaning vote.
If my cursory equation is right, there’s a net of three fewer conservative votes in the Democratic house caucus and two more progressive votes, with five seats changing hands to Republicans.
