Western Washington has 78% of the population. It is a rain forest, predominantly suburban with some large cities, environmentally green, socially liberal and highly secular.
Eastern Washington has 22% of the population. It is a desert, predominantly rural with no large cities, environmentally anti-green, socially conservative and highly religious.
To Republicans, Washington is two states unhappily married at the Cascades.
In Western Washington, Republicans are fiscally conservative, environmentally green, socially liberal and secular. Rather than vote for an Eastern Washington-style Republican – the kind that would excite FReepers – they will vote Democratic.
In Eastern Washington, Republicans are fiscally conservative, environmentally anti-green, socially conservative and religious. Rather than vote for a Western Washington-style Republican – the kind that FReepers would call a “RINO” – they will stay home.
To Democrats, Washington is one state. The only Democratic strength in Eastern Washington is in the poorer areas of Spokane, Yakima and Tri-Cities. Thus, in Washington, Democrats can speak with one voice.
For statewide office, there are certain combinations that produce certain results, and you can almost bank on them.
There are three solutions to this problem.
Until then, we will have an intractable problem, and Washington will continue to be a socialist entity.
If you run a Centrist Republican against a Hard Left Democrat, the Republican wins. (Spellman over McDermott, 1980)That may have been true in 1980 - but not now.
Bagdad Jim is flush with cash - entrenched and unbeatable.
He is the darling of the Seattle leftist socialist/communist "hate America first" voting block.
Lenin statue in Seattle
