OPINION: A crowded field, and Dino Rossi

Feb. 15--The first congressional election after a new president is sworn in has historically been bad news for the president's party, especially when the president's approval numbers are low. Across Washington state, Democrats hold a 10-point advantage in a measure of generic voter turnout in congressional races. Democrats are not wrong to be optimistic that a "blue wave" will wash over the country this November, shifting the balance of power in Congress.

But in the 8th Congressional District, where the Democratic field is crowded with political newcomers running against Republican Dino Rossi, things get complicated. We are a complicated bunch, after all, we who live in the only district that crosses the Cascades.

A January report by Elway Research found that "in the combination of the two Western Washington GOP districts, the generic Republican led the Democrat by 17 points, 48-31%, casting a shadow on Democrats' hopes for a pick up in the 8th."

Rossi served in the state Senate from 1996-2003. Since then, he has lost three statewide races, holding public office only by appointment to fill vacancies.

In large part because of those three unsuccessful campaigns, Rossi enjoys excellent name recognition across the state. He has already raised more than $1 million this campaign -- far more money than any of his Democratic challengers have in the bank.

During a swing through town last month, Rossi sat down with World reporter Jefferson Robbins and me at Bob's Classic. Mostly Rossi wanted to talk about his accomplishments during his time in the state Senate, how he helped balance the state budget without raising taxes in 2003, and passed legislation to crack down on drunken drivers.

Near the end of our conversation I asked the candidate his views on social issues like reproductive rights and LGBT issues.

"You're the first one in the entire campaign to even ask me about any of that," he said.

Really? But alright, where does he stand? He talked about his pro-life stance, then moved on.

"But back to the LGBT issue, because that is something..." Jefferson's transcript quotes me saying.

"That's a big one for you?" Rossi asked.

Well, I suppose it is. While taxes and the economy are certainly the issues that win elections, I said I was hearing a whole lot of candidates talking about LGBT issues this year, a conversation sparked by recent moves by the Trump administration to roll back nondiscrimination protections for LGBT people in the areas of employment, health care and social services, all in the name of religious freedom.

Rossi said he'd consider LGBT-related issues as they arise. "I've never run on social issues," Rossi said. "No one, the regular folks out there I've been talking to, have asked me about that."

Drats. All this time I thought I was a regular folk.

He may not run on these issues, but Rossi has a history of opposing legal equality for gay people. A Rossi campaign flyer in 1996 touted his opposition to "special rights" for gay people, and he disparaged his opponent for being a "strong proponent of gay rights". He voted for Washington's so-called Defense of Marriage Act in 1998, and against moving to the floor a bill that would have banned discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Pollster Stuart Elway told the Seattle Times back in November:

"The D's have a real opportunity (in the 8th District), but as we know, generic party labels don't run against each other -- real people do. They could squander that opportunity with a long, bruising primary fight while Rossi runs alone on the other side. Then the eventual Dem nominee has limited time to become known and mount a campaign against Rossi."

As of this writing, there are somewhere around nine Democrats running against Rossi, though it's difficult to keep track of that number from one day to the next.

Kelli Scott's column appears Wednesday through Friday. Reach her at (509) 661-5205 or [email protected].

Reach Kelli Scott at 509-661-5205 or [email protected].

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