The conservative Democrat from Mason County often sides with Republicans. He had a 100 percent rating in 2005 with the Building Industry Association of Washington, a vocal supporter of the GOP. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown got a zero.

"I'm the infidel and won't do what they say, and they just can't stand it," chortles Sheldon, D-Potlach, who endorsed President Bush and Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi in the 2004 election.

His independence clearly ticks off Democrats. Given the party's narrow 26-23 majority in the state Senate, Sheldon is often a critical factor in close votes.

Now, party loyalists want him out.

Democratic activists are working to unseat Sheldon in the September primary and replace him with someone who will help solidify the party's lead in the Senate. The 35th Legislative District Democrats, as well as local Democratic organizations in Kitsap and Thurston counties, are backing a newcomer, Kyle Taylor Lucas.

The state's largest teachers union and the Washington State Labor Council, both powerful Democratic allies, also support Lucas, who once served as executive director of the Governor's Office of Indian Affairs under Gov. Gary Locke.

So far, there's no Republican candidate.

"Tim Sheldon votes with the Republican Party a tremendous amount. He is welcomed into the Republican caucus," said Fran Moyer, chairwoman of the 35th District Democrats. "When Republicans are counting on his vote ... this is wrong. If he wants to vote for Republicans, then be a Republican."

Many Democrats say they got fed up with Sheldon when he sided with Republicans to vote against gay-rights legislation that added sexual orientation to a state law that bans discrimination based on race, gender, religion and other categories.

He helped defeat the measure in 2005. Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, also voted against the measure, but Hargrove votes with his caucus far more often than Sheldon does. The law passed this year after a moderate Republican switched sides.

The gay-rights vote wasn't the only time Sheldon has sided with the GOP. Democrats say he's sided with Republicans to pass bills that would have reduced worker's-compensation benefits and slowed state minimum-wage increases. And last year he was the only Senate Democrat who voted not to certify Christine Gregoire as governor.

Sheldon's critics also don't like the fact that he's serving in two elected positions. In addition to being a senator, Sheldon was elected to the Mason County Commission in 2004. He ran as an independent.

Sheldon said being on the county commission makes him a better state senator because he's more knowledgeable about local issues.

As for his political beliefs, Sheldon said he considers himself a Democrat, regardless of what others say.

"I'm a Democrat because I'm committed to public service. I grew up as a Democrat. I attended the 1964 national convention as an alternate delegate when LBJ was nominated. Among my heroes when I grew up were John Kennedy," said Sheldon, who is 59.

His votes reflect his district, Sheldon said, which is more rural and blue collar than Democratic districts in the Seattle area. It covers Mason County and parts of Kitsap, Thurston and Grays Harbor counties.

"I'm really trying to advocate for my district, and that goes beyond party loyalties," he said.

In the 2004 election, about 50 percent of 35th District voters went for Rossi in the governor's race, compared to about 47 percent for Gregoire. But Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry won the district by a narrow margin over President Bush the same year.

Sheldon was first elected to the Legislature in 1990, starting in the House and then getting elected to the Senate in 1997. In 2002, he ran against a Green Party candidate and won with 78 percent of the vote.

New primary rules

Lucas, 53, could prove a challenge for Sheldon.

Party activists say they'll bring out the troops to go knocking on voters' doors on her behalf. Plus, the state's new primary system could aid Lucas. The primary requires voters to pick one party and to vote only for its candidates at the polls.

The last time Sheldon was up for election the state still had a blanket primary, which let people vote for any candidate regardless of party. That meant Republicans, independents and Democrats could vote for Sheldon in the primary.

Sheldon acknowledged the change could hurt him. "Many people who are my traditional voters, the independents and Republicans, as well as Democrats, don't like to take a Democratic ballot," he said.

Lucas targets confirmed Democratic voters when she campaigns door-to-door, because she expects they're the ones most likely to vote in a primary.

That meant a lot of walking recently when she campaigned in Shelton. Sometimes there would be only one home per block on her list of voters.

Bill Gale was at one of the homes she visited. Gale said he admires Sheldon. "To me, he doesn't hang Democrat or Republican. He votes the way he feels," Gale said.

But after meeting Lucas, Gale said he was undecided how he'll vote in September: "I just vote for somebody whose interests are the same as mine."

Fundraising lead

Sheldon has plenty of money to get his message out to voters. State records show he's raised more than $74,000, including contributions from business, tribes and the medical industry.

Lucas, has raised only about $8,700, but supporters say they expect that amount to build quickly.

Brad Owen, who held Sheldon's Senate seat before becoming the state's lieutenant governor, said he expects Sheldon to win the race.

"Tim is unpopular within the party structure within the district. He's not unpopular with the voters in the district," he said.

Owen said he faced a similar Senate challenge in 1990 because labor groups weren't happy with some of his votes.

"We did not see eye to eye, and they convinced a bunch of other people to put money up," he said. "They were soundly defeated. I believe that will happen with Tim as well."

The Democratic Party should have room for conservative lawmakers such as Sheldon, Owen said, though he added, "He needs to work at seeing their point of view and look for common ground."

Andrew Garber: 360-943-9882 or agarber@seattletimes.com

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