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Speculation Continues Over Possible Kucinich Run in Washington State
Rep. Dennis Kucinich's political future is still uncertain after losing Tuesday to Rep. Marcy Kaptur for Ohio's newly created 9th district. Many are still speculating whether Kucinich will run for a vacant congressional seat in Washington state.
(photo: House Committee on Education and the Workforce Democrats) The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Kucinich did not give an answer about a possible run for office in Washington state at a news conference at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport earlier this morning:
Kucinich sidestepped repeated questions about his future, including queries about whether he would seek a congressional seat in Washington state.
More speculation about a Washington state run came from Andy Juniewicz, Kucinich’s spokesman and longtime political strategist. Politico reported yesterday:
In an interview with POLITICO last week, Andy Juniewicz, Kucinich’s spokesman and longtime political strategist, repeatedly declined to rule out the possibility of Kucinich waging a 2012 congressional bid in Washington state, which has three vacant, Democratic-leaning seats and where the congressman made forays last year before ultimately deciding to run in Ohio.
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The Nation's John Nichols spoke with Amy Goodman on Democracy Now! this morning about Kaptur's win over Kucinich and the possibility of a Kucinich congressional seat in the Seattle area:
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Show Allnamora
Dennis Kucinich may be welcome to Dave Reichert's seat in Washington's 8th Congressional District in your mind, but you're engaging in magical thinking if you think he could win in that affluent fiscally-conservative district.
In 2004, Reichert defeated centrist Democrat Dave Ross, a popular KIRO talk-radio host, 51% to 46%.
In 2006, Reichert defeated liberal-progressive Democrat Darcy Burner 51% to 49%.
In 2008, Reichert again defeated liberal-progressive Democrat Darcy Burner 53% to 47%.
In 2012, Reichert defeated Democrat Suzan DelBene 52% to 48%.
Prior to Reichert's winning the seat in 2004, the district was represented by ultra-conservative Republican Jennifer Dunn (1993–2005), and before that by Republican Rod Chandler (1983–1993), who was the first to hold the seat when it was first created -- a Democrat has never held that seat!
If you think Kucinich could unseat Dave Reichert in that very safe Republican seat, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you at subprime rates.
There is only one liberal-progressive district in Washington State where Kucinich would have a chance to win -- the 7th Congressional District -- which is currently held by liberal-progressive Democrat Jim McDermott, and McDermott doesn't show any signs of wanting to retire and wins elections with over 60% of the vote.
Kucinich couldn't beat Jim McDermott in a race for that seat -- McDermott is way too popular in his district -- but he might have a chance if the seat were vacant.
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