GOP, Dems locked in tight Wash legislative races

Democrats held early leads in a handful of competitive races as they tried to add to their already dominating ranks in Washington's House and Senate chambers.

Republicans, hoping to recover some of the seats lost in 2006 when a Democratic wave swept out many GOP lawmakers, were fending off Democrats in a couple of districts as votes were tallied from Tuesday's election.

No major shifts appeared likely but a handful of close races could change the balance by a few seats.

Democrats have controlled both the House and Senate since 2005. Before the election, they had majorities of 63-35 in the House and 32-17 in the Senate.

There were 124 legislative races on the ballot - the entire 98-member House and 26 of the 49 Senate seats.

In King County, Republican Reps. Skip Priest, of Federal Way, and Glenn Anderson, of Fall City, led their Democratic challengers, Carol Gregory and David Spring, by barely 1 percent, with less than of the expected votes counted.

Elsewhere, Republican Rep. Norma Smith, of Clinton, trailed her Democratic challenger, Tim Knue, who had 51 percent of the votes with 69 percent of the tally completed. Democrat Rob Cerqui led Republican Bruce Dammeier by 0.6 percent in a battle for the seat vacated by Rep. Joyce McDonald, R-Puyallup.

In Spokane, Republican challenger Kevin Parker led Democratic incumbent Rep. Don Barlow, but Republican Rep. John Ahern trailed Democratic challenger John Driscoll, each race splitting 51-49.

Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland, fended off a strong challenge from former Rep. Toby Nixon, who held the seat before leaving in 2006 for an unsuccessful state Senate run.

Final results for close races in King County will probably not be known until later in the week.

More state House seats "give us more bright people to face the challenges," said House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler. "We're going to be careful about what we do, and do things that are focused. I don't think you'll see us go crazy."

Richard DeBolt, Republican House minority leader, said Tuesday that it was too early to tell if Democrats were going to increase their ranks in the House.

"One of the things we have to remember, we have to have divergent opinions in order for the people to be served best. We'd like to have more voices in the Legislature," DeBolt said.

Republicans targeted Senate Transportation Chairwoman Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, but as of early Wednesday she led 54 percent to 46 percent over GOP challenger Linda Haddon with 70 percent of the vote counted.

Republican Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, trailed his Democratic challenger, David Charrier, by fewer than 150 votes out of nearly 45,000 cast with nearly 80 percent of the ballots counted.

In a handful of districts, voters decided between candidates of the same party, a result of the state's new primary election system in which the two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election regardless of party.

For example, Senate Ways and Means Chairwoman Margarita Prentice, D-Renton, successfully defended her seat against fellow Democrat Juan Martinez.