Filing deadline comes with little fanfare

The filing deadline for Washington's candidates for public office ended last Friday afternoon. The full list of filers can be found here at the Secretary of State's website. The Tacoma News-Tribune has also compiled the same list, but theirs is worth including because they denote the incumbent in each race, if applicable.

As with any filing period, there are a few surprises in terms of candidates who filed without formally announcing beforehand, but nothing major. Gov. Chris Gregoire is still seeking re-election, and Dino Rossi is still challenging her for a second time. Attorney General Rob McKenna and Democratic challenger John Ladenburg both remembered to get their paperwork in well before the deadline. The top races in the state before last week will remain the top races going forward.

The most movement, if anything warrants mentioning, came in the races for congress. After appearing to run unopposed in the 9th Congressional District, Rep. Adam Smith (D-Tacoma) was joined by Steilacoom Republican James Postma on the last day. Meanwhile just north of there in the state's premier U.S. House race, the 8th Congressional District, a total of six candidates filed. One Republican, three Democrats and Two "no party preference" candidates are included, at least primarily, in the rematch between Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Auburn) and Darcy Burner (D-Carnation).

The 5th and 7th Congressional Districts also have six candidates vying for the seats currently held by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Colville) and Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Seattle), respectively. The 5th District race has a particularly interesting dynamic. Although it is widely expected that the two major party nominees, Republican McMorris Rodgers and Democrat Mark Mays, will move on in the top two primary, the fact that one other Republican candidate, a Constitution Party candidate, and a Libertarian are running could mix things up in the primary and pull votes away from the incumbent, especially considering the amount of support that presidential candidate Ron Paul received in Eastern Washington during the presidential caucuses of February 9.

And in partisan minor stress relief news, the full slate of state House and Senate candidates in the 12th, 13th (all Republicans), 19th and 34th (all Democrats) Legislative Districts are running unopposed.