Reichert wins tight race for 8th District

U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert has survived a second Democratic-wave election, bucking a national trend that flipped at least 24 Republican congressional seats to Democrats.

His opponent, Darcy Burner, conceded tonight after The Associated Press determined that Reichert's lead for the 8th District seat was insurmountable.

In an interview this evening, Reichert said he believed he won because people in the district knew that "what you see is what you get."

"I think that there's no rebranding that had to be done here in this campaign," he said. "My years of public service have built a record that people in this community recognize."

Burner did not call Reichert to concede tonight and could not be reached for comment. In a statement, she said: "It is likely at this point that Congressman Reichert has won re-election, and while we will certainly ensure that every valid vote is counted, we accept the decision of the voters.

"I would like to thank the thousands of people who put so much time and effort into the campaign, as well as the countless thousands more who went beyond voting to actively participate in our democratic process this year. The election of Barack Obama as our new president will ensure that the change to the direction of our country called for in this campaign is realized in the new year."

Reichert held a sizable lead in Pierce County returns and was outpolling Burner by a much smaller margin in King County. With almost 80 percent of the expected vote counted from Tuesday's election, Reichert's lead was nearing 8,000 votes this evening. Roughly 270,000 votes have been tallied.

The two-term incumbent was considered vulnerable by numerous nonpartisan groups who track congressional contests. The 8th District is a classic swing district that has elected Democrats for president the past three presidential elections, while returning Republicans to Congress.

The district includes parts of eastern King and Pierce counties.

"I think that Dave Reichert was re-elected in what will turn out to be the two worst elections for Republicans in a generation in 2006 and 2008 because he fits this district so well that he transcends politics," said Mike Shields, Reichert's campaign manager.

Burner started with name recognition from her previous unsuccessful run against Reichert in 2006. She raised more money than he did and enjoyed support from mainstream Democratic organizations like EMILY'S List and from the netroots, a politically progressive group of bloggers who helped her raise money and get out her message.

She tried to tag Reichert as an ineffective congressman who marched in lock-step with President Bush.

In the end, a Democrat-friendly political climate and more than $3 million in campaign cash apparently wasn't enough to take the seat.

Reichert's history as King County sheriff helped, said Ken Spain, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. Reichert also tried to distance himself from an unpopular Republican president. Across the country, Republican candidates saw their races become a referendum on the Republican Party.

"Republicans who are able to establish their own brand were able to find a way to succeed despite a very turbulent environment," Spain said.

Burner, 37, a former Microsoft manager and Harvard graduate, lost by only 3 percentage points in 2006. She tried to improve her chances this year by playing up her middle-class roots, hoping to appeal to the district's more conservative, rural areas, and by offering detailed plans to end the Iraq war and to lower taxes for the middle class.

Both her plans drew fire from Reichert, especially the tax plan, which his campaign countered would actually result in higher taxes.

Reichert said getting things done as a member of the minority party with a Democratic president would be difficult, but he said "things will still get done, they'll just get done in a different way."

He said his first priorities for his new term will be working on the proposed economic stimulus package and moving forward on a plan to set aside an Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area.

Information from The Associated Press is included in this report. Emily Heffter: 206-464-8246 or eheffter@seattletimes.com