Olympia Report: Down-Ballot Challengers and Early Expenditures
The race for the state senate seat in the 10th Legislative District—think Whidbey Island and environs—figures to be one of the hottest of the year. It’s one of a handful of true swing districts in the state and one of just two with divided representation. Incumbent GOP Sen. Ron Muzzall, R-Oak Harbor, has two Democrats for House seatmates, and a big target on his back this year.
Still, we were a little taken aback to see an independent expenditure targeting him in April, some four months before the August primary, in a race that won’t be decided until November. New Direction PAC, which works to maintain and expand the Democratic majorities in the Legislature, has spent more than $40,000 on more than 50,000 mailers opposing the Oak Harbor Republican.
Here’s what the anti-Muzzall campaign looks like:
The 10th, which for years was represented by thoughtful, moderate Republicans very much like Muzzall, has been trending D in recent years. Democrats flipped one of the House seats in 2020 for the military-heavy district. A Muzzall loss would accelerate a leftward shift in the Senate that’s expected even if he prevails.
https://www.postalley.org/2024/05/02/olympia-report-down-ballot-challengers-and-early-expenditures/