By Jim Brunner
The Seattle Times
Issaquah pediatrician Kim Schrier will carry Democrats’ hopes of winning the U.S. House seat of retiring Rep. Dave Reichert, advancing to a November matchup against Republican Dino Rossi.
Schrier edged out rival Democrat and attorney Jason Rittereiser in the 8th Congressional District primary on the strength of new vote tallies Monday afternoon.
Rittereiser conceded in a phone call to Schrier, according to her campaign spokeswoman Katie Rodihan.
Rittereiser had previously hung onto hope as he trailed Schrier by a little more than 1,000 votes as of Friday. But on Monday afternoon, Schrier led him by about 1,100 votes.
In a statement Monday, Schrier described voters as “tired of business as usual in Washington, D.C.”
“Every day, we read new headlines about chaos and corruption in the White House, and watch as the Republican-held Congress sits by and does nothing to help families and workers in our district,” she said in a statement.
Rossi, a former state senator and real-estate investor, took first place in the primary, with about 43 percent of the vote. Schrier came in second, with about 19 percent, just ahead of Rittereiser’s 18 percent. Another Democrat, former federal public-health official Shannon Hader, took 12.5 percent.
The November matchup will offer voters a clear contrast, pitting a Democratic newcomer in Schrier against one of the state’s best-known Republican politicians in Rossi, who has served in the state Legislature but lost three bids for higher office.
They’re competing in a nationally watched election in a district that has never sent a Democrat to the House. But the district has regularly voted for Democrats in presidential races and has been rated a “toss up” by national political oddsmakers.
The primary results have Democrats contending they can win the seat for the first time in a midterm election shaping up as a referendum on President Donald Trump and the policies of the GOP majority in Congress.
But Republicans say they’re confident in Rossi, who has carried the 8th District even in his three statewide election losses.
