Bailey Stober’s decision not to run for the Legislature in Olympia turned out to be one of the few surprises as candidates filed last week for state and federal offices.
The candidates will be on the Aug. 7 primary ballot with the two people with the most votes in each race moving on to the Nov. 6 general election.
Stober, of Auburn and a three-time candidate for the Kent City Council, didn’t file for office after he announced in April he would seek the District 47 House, Position No. 1 seat held by Rep. Mark Hargrove, R-Covington. Stober is the former chair of the King County Democrats.
“I spoke with family and friends who encouraged me to take a break from working 80 hours a week between a day job and civic responsibilities,” Stober said in an email Tuesday. “I saw some polling numbers that show Mark Hargrove is vulnerable this year but it would still take a tremendous amount of time to do it.
“Rather than continue in partisan politics I’m going to refocus my energy on local nonpartisan activities and organizations. I’m looking forward to visiting six countries and six states this year and traveling rather than a nasty partisan fight. I’ll do everything I can to support Debra Entenman and get her elected. We need a representative that actually votes for and supports the people of South King County.”
Entenman, of Kent, works as the 9th District director for U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Bellevue, out of his Renton office. Hargrove is seeking a fifth, two-year term. James Dillon, of Auburn, is running as an Independent against Hargrove and Entenman. The district includes parts of Kent, Auburn and Covington.
In the other District 47 House race, Republicans Ted Cooke and Lindsey Shumway are challenging incumbent Rep. Pat Sullivan, D-Covington. Cooke, of Covington, is a senior software tester. Shumway, of Kent, is a small business owner and art docent for the Kent School District.
Democrat Mona Das will challenge Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn, for the District 47 Senate seat. Das is a Covington mortgage business owner.
In District 33, which includes parts of Kent, Republican Anthony Lamb will challenge Rep. Mia Su-Ling Gregerson, D-SeaTac. State Rep. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, is running unopposed.
Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines, will be challenged by Libertarian Charles Schaefer and Independent Republican Kun Wang.
A dozen people are running to replace Congressman Dave Reichert, R-Auburn, who decided not to seek another term as the District 8 representative. Among the candidates are Republican Dino Rossi and Democrats Jason Rittereiser and Shannon Hader.
District 9 Congressman Adam Smith, D-Bellevue, will be challenged by Republican Doug Basler, of Kent, and Democrat Sarah Smith, of Kent.
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