GOP beats only statehouse Dem in rural E. Wash.

The Legislature's minority Republicans scored a key moral victory Tuesday with a lopsided defeat of the only statehouse Democrat from largely conservative rural Eastern Washington.

Republican challenger Terry Nealey was easily outpolling Rep. Laura Grant, D-Walla Walla, in the race for the 16th Legislative District, which includes the cities of Pasco and Walla Walla.

Nealey's margin stood at about 58 percent to 42 percent on Tuesday night, with about 60 percent of the expected vote counted in unofficial returns.

Nealey, a former Columbia County prosecutor, said his victory showed that voters in the district were ready for a change after 22 years of having a Democrat occupy one of their House seats.

Nealey said his campaign focused primarily on the state's looming budget shortfall, and he credited voter frustration with state and national government finances as a major boost.

"People were both concerned and upset about those issues, and people felt they needed to elect a conservative Republican that would represent their interests," he said. "And I was the right guy at the right time."

Grant was running to complete the term of her late father, Bill Grant, who died earlier this year. Laura Grant was appointed to the seat by county officials, but had to run in Tuesday's special election to keep the job.

Nealey will now finish out the remainder of the term, and must run for re-election next fall. Grant and Democratic campaign officials did not immediately return messages seeking comment Tuesday night.

Republicans also will retain Eastern Washington House seats in two other special elections held Tuesday. The first of those contests was in the 9th District, which includes Pullman and Cheney.

Both candidates in the 9th were Republican, a wrinkle allowed by the state's "Top Two" primary, which advances the top vote getters regardless of party. Susan Fagan was leading that contest Tuesday night, holding about 55 percent of the vote to Pat Hailey's 45 percent, with roughly 56 percent of the vote tallied.

The two were vying to fill the seat previously held by Republican Steve Hailey, who died before completing his term.

The final contest saw freshman Rep. David Taylor, R-Moxee, easily retain his appointed seat. Taylor was elevated to the job after Dan Newhouse was appointed Gov. Chris Gregoire's agriculture secretary.

Taylor faced a nominal opponent in Tuesday's polling, but that candidate, Democrat John Gotts, abandoned the race and endorsed Taylor weeks ago.