Dunn says she won't seek return to Congress

Seattle Times ^ | Friday, January 30, 2004 | Associated Press

[ikka]

OLYMPIA — U.S. Rep. Jennifer Dunn, Washington state's senior Republican in Congress and a favorite of the Bush White House, told The Associated Press tonight that she's retiring from politics.

Dunn, 61, who had been courted by President Bush to run for the U.S. Senate this fall, said she has decided to serve out her sixth House term and then retire from public life.

She cited family considerations — she's newly remarried — and a desire for one more career after politics. She endorsed no successor in her Republican-leaning 8th District in Seattle's eastern suburbs.

"It's time for me to move on, probably to the private sector," she said in an interview. "It's hard. It's hard to think of giving it up. It has been such a positive thing in my life. But at some time, I will have to. This feels like the time."

Dunn was chairwoman of the state Republican Party for a decade before winning her congressional seat in 1992. The Bellevue native was regularly re-elected by large margins, and had been a heavy favorite to win again this year. She already had amassed a warchest of about $1.5 million.

[ikka]

see also this FR story of a bit ago: Dunn draws challenger from high-tech world

[Kuksool]

Defending the WA-08 will not be easy. The House seat leans slightly RAT. With the potential for the Texas and PA Redistricting plans to be struck down by the US Supremes, and possibility for losses in the KY-06 and SD-At-Large, we could say hello to House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi.

[Torie]

Sad loss. Dunn had a lot of talent, but it was not fully realized in the public square. Her seat might go Dem by the way. It is marginal, and the Puget Sound is trending the wrong way on the Bush country map.

[Torie]

That about sums it up. But the odds are very low that the Texas map will bite the dust for this election cycle at least. Thus the Pubbies probably have another two years anyway.

[Guillermo]

Well, if her replacement is anything like Bush, he'll be the biggest spender in Congress.

[sinkspur]

With the potential for the Texas and PA Redistricting plans to be struck down by the US Supremes, and possibility for losses in the KY-06 and SD-At-Large, we could say hello to House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi.

Sorry. Those plans won't be struck down in sufficient time to affect the 2004 elections. The Court has allowed the plan in Texas to stay in place for this year's elections.

And, even if they were, there's ZERO chance that the Dems take the House, or even the Senate.

[decimalsanddollars]

first she refuses to run against Murray, now this. quite annoying to me. holding onto this seat is going to be very difficult.

[Torie]

No, if both the Texas plan and the Penn plan were struck down, and new lines took effect for this election cycle, the Dems would be in the hunt, particularly if Bush falters a bit. If. House elections are a bit of hobby of mine, for what it is worth.

[GretchenEE]

sad times

[sinkspur]

No, if both the Texas plan and the Penn plan were struck down, and new lines took effect for this election cycle, the Dems would be in the hunt, particularly if Bush falters a bit

The Supreme Court has refused to stop this year's elections using Texas' lines. It is doubtful that any decision would affect this year's elections in Texas. I've read the refusal to stay very carefully.

[decimalsanddollars]

might i add that even if we do hold onto this, the replacement will most likely be a big time RINO. for quite awhile Dunn has gotten away with portraying herself as a moderate and voting rather conservative, especially for that district, but while she can do that in a district she's represented for years, it'll be tough for a new one to do so.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Dunn was my rep years ago... best rep I ever had. She'll be missed.

[Publius]

I had predicted this several months ago when she got a strong challenger instead of the hapless Heidi Behrens. Gore won this district, and it is trending Democratic. Look for a D pickup this fall in Washington.

[Torie]

Yes, as I said the odds are very low that 1) SCOTUS will render a decision that both strikes down the Pennsylvania map, and encompasses within its reach a clear rendering of the Texas map as unconstitutional, and 2) an appellate court thereupon thereafter orders a new Texas primary, and a primary and general election under lines which are drawn by the legislature, or absent that, the federal court, all within this election cycle. Very low. About as low that Joe Lieberman will win the Dem nomination, but higher than the odds that Sharpton or Kucinich will.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I tried to talk Dunn into challenging Murray back in '94 but she had no stomach for it then. I think she's bored with Congress and didn't want to run statewide.

[Abram]

This unfortunately leaves use one fairly safe and another pretty safe seat. Hastings is going to win...Nethercutt's seat is probably going to remain Republican, but it will be more of a challenge without an incumbent. WA-D1 has two good challengers to Insless if he decides to run. Dr. Roger Stark has raised a lot of money and I have received several solicitations from Jane Hague. I am inclined to support Stark as he is more conservative, but Hague has a proven electoral tract record. Baird looks pretty safe for the Ds and so does Larsen...Sinclair may be able to give him a challenge, but with Everett...it is hard to say. I thought Norma Smith would be a good fit for that district and it didn't turn out that way.

Does anyone know if Inslee is still talking about a run for the Attorney General?

Any other WA Freepers know any more relative WA political news. Politics1.com has Rossi running for Gov., Frederico Cruz for Lt. Governor, McKenna running for AG, Reed running for reelection for Sec. of State, and Suderland running for reelection for Commissioner of public lands. Any R contenders for Education Commissioner or Treasurer or Insurance Commissioner. Ann Anderson was a pretty solid candidate several election cycles...any word about her? Anthony Lowe ran for Insurance Commissioner, but I understand he has an appointment in the Bush admininstration in Washington D.C. What about Doug Jewitt? What happened to the Republicans of the 90's....???? We can't let these people run unopposed.

[JohnnyZ]

I'm not crying. I have no great love for pro-abortion politicians.

I'd rather we not lose the seat, but if we're gonna lose anyone I'm glad it's a moderate.

[oceanview]

the RINOs keep people like charlie rangel from being chairman of house ways and means, just as an example. the country is changing, more people move to the suburbs and bring their "city" politics with them. more people flee places like NY and CA and go to Arizona and Florida and North Carolina, and again bring their politics with them.

the 2006 mid term elections will be a big problem I think, but whatever, lets take one at a time.