OLYMPIA — Gov.-elect Christine Gregoire, saying Republicans have not backed up their allegations of election fraud, sharply urged GOP officials yesterday to "calm down. Stop the level of rhetoric."

Her request came during a meeting with reporters that was supposed to focus on her plans for the legislative session that will start Monday. Instead, the discussion centered on GOP calls for a do-over of the Nov. 2 election.

"The idea of a redo I find to be absolutely ludicrous," Gregoire said. "It's particularly unfortunate we're somehow suggesting these county election officials haven't done their job, when there is absolutely no evidence to support that."

Republicans want a new election between Gregoire and Republican Dino Rossi, who lost by 129 votes in a statewide manual recount after leading in two previous counts.

Rossi supporters argue that vote-counting problems, such as discrepancies between lists of voters and counts of votes cast, indicate the election was botched.

"All we have to do is show [there] has been fraud or error or neglect to the degree that you can't know who won this election," Republican Party Chairman Chris Vance said. "If I were Christine Gregoire, I'd be very nervous right now."

Many counties, including King County, are in the process of reconciling their lists of Nov. 2 voters with the numbers of ballots cast. In King County the difference between the two is 3,539, though county officials say that number will shrink this week as election workers double-check voter lists. About 900,000 people — a third of the state's electorate — voted in King County.

Gregoire accused Republicans of dividing the state with their accusations. "I think we ought to put it behind us and move on," she said. "This is not good for the state of Washington."

When it was pointed out that Democrats at one point accused Rossi of being "a thief" trying to "steal" the election when he was leading after the first recount, Gregoire condemned that comment as well.

Gregoire said she'd announce key members of her staff by Monday. She's already toured the governor's mansion and plans to move in next week.

TED S. WARREN / AP Gov.-elect Christine Gregoire sketches out an agenda that emphasizes the economy, education, health care and the environment during yesterday's annual Associated Press Legislative Preview in Olympia.

The Legislature routinely certifies election results on the first day of the session, which will begin Monday. Gregoire is to be sworn in two days later.

She briefly sketched out an agenda yesterday that puts a priority on the economy, education, health care and the environment, without getting into details, and she wouldn't say whether she'd support a tax increase to help deal with a projected $1.8 billion budget deficit.

Outgoing Gov. Gary Locke proposed a tax increase of about $600 million, including sin taxes on beer, wine, liquor and soda pop, to help close the budget gap.

Gregoire reiterated her support for pay raises for teachers and state employees.

Her narrow win won't hurt her ability to work with lawmakers in both parties, she said.

Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate don't appear ready to hold hands.

"The truth is we don't know who won the election and we never will," House Minority Leader Bruce Chandler, R-Granger, said yesterday.

Senate Minority Leader Bill Finkbeiner, R-Kirkland, yesterday said he wasn't ready to concede that Gregoire is the winner. But if she is, his party will work with her, Finkbeiner said.

"There are a lot of angry people, there are some angry legislators, but at the end of the day we take very seriously our responsibility to move the state forward," he said.

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