The lawsuit over the governor's election has cost the state's two major political parties more than $4 million combined, leaving both sides in debt to their Seattle law firms and looking for help from Washington, D.C., to pay the bills as next month's trial approaches.

Former presidential candidate John Kerry is coming to Seattle next month to raise money for state Democrats, and Republicans are seeking help from national GOP groups.

"This lawsuit is unbelievably expensive, and both parties are working frantically to raise a lot of money to pay for it," said state Republican Party Chairman Chris Vance.

"It's the legal equivalent of the battle of Gettysburg."

Vance and state Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt said that since the November election, they have each spent about $2 million on field operations, legal fees and pretrial research.

As of April 7, Republicans owed $370,839 to Davis Wright Tremaine, the Seattle law firm representing Vance and Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi in the lawsuit.

Democrats owed $501,000 to Seattle law firm Perkins Coie as of an April 6 filing with the state Public Disclosure Commission.

Republicans filed the legal challenge in January, asking a judge to overturn the election of Democrat Christine Gregoire because of alleged mistakes by election officials and illegal votes by felons and others.

Gregoire was declared the winner over Rossi after a hand recount reversed the results of the initial vote count and a machine recount.

Democrats petitioned the court to join the case as a respondent to defend Gregoire's election.

With the trial approaching, costs will continue to mount for the political parties.

Berendt estimates the Democrats will have to spend another $1.5 million.

Democrats yesterday sent out invitations to a May 1 Seattle fund-raiser headlined by Kerry, the party's 2004 presidential nominee.

"We have started fund raising again very aggressively to pay for the field and legal operations for the rest of the case," Berendt said.

Kerry will be raising money for the state party's "Governor's Defense Fund." Tickets will cost $40 to $250 apiece.

While Gregoire has worked to distance herself from the party's legal work on her behalf, she is being billed as a "special guest" at the event.

Kerry has already helped Gregoire. In December he gave the party $250,000 of his leftover campaign funds to help pay for the hand recount.

Vance wouldn't say what plans Republicans have for fund raising but noted he hopes for help from national Republican groups.

In some ways, Kerry's concession to President Bush in November led to Gregoire's eventual victory in the recount. Gregoire has said Democrats from around the country donated money for a statewide recount in her race in part because they wanted her to fight rather than give up too early, as they believed Kerry did and former Vice President Al Gore had done in 2000.

"Some people feel that this governor's race hasn't ended and some people are wishing the presidential race ended in a different way, so I think it's interesting to bring Kerry and Gregoire together," said Ari Melber, who was deputy political director for Kerry's campaign in the state.

Berendt said Kerry's trip west "does make one wonder whether he is gearing up to run again."

Melber said it is way too early for people to focus on a 2008 presidential campaign.

"This is a trip that is about connecting with Democrats, talking about health care and helping Gov. Gregoire. John Kerry, especially in a blue state like Washington, can come into town, draw a crowd and raise money."

Kerry's visit will help the state party draw attention to the election challenge as the trial nears.

Berendt said he is talking to national Democratic groups, including some that helped finance the recount in December.

"They came through handsomely in December, but we're going back and raising the profile of this," Berendt said.

Bill Richardson, New Mexico governor and former U.N. ambassador, will headline a June fund-raiser in Tacoma.

The party's recent fund raising has relied mostly on smaller donations.

Vance said it will cost Republicans as much as $500,000 more through the inevitable appeal to the state Supreme Court.

Recent donations to Republicans include $25,000 from developer George Rowley, $10,000 from the Republican Governors Association, $25,000 from cellular pioneer Bruce McCaw, $10,000 from John Nordstrom of the department-store family and $10,000 from Fremont Dock.

Vance said there are several reasons why the lawsuit is so expensive. In the normal course of business, the party relies on volunteer legal help from its counsel, John White. But the election challenge takes the resources of a large firm like Davis Wright or Perkins Coie.

"Normally in a lawsuit, you say, 'This is what it is worth to me. If it gets too expensive, settle the damn thing.' You can't settle this thing."

In this case, Vance said the attorneys have been told to do whatever it takes to see the case through. "The governorship is worth it. It's worth every penny."

David Postman: 360-943-9882 or dpostman@seattletimes.com