The biggest spenders in a race for an open state House seat in Snohomish County are not the candidates but two political committees funded largely by labor groups.
Democrat Mike Wilson and Republican Mark Harmsworth are battling for the 44th District post held by Republican Mike Hope until he resigned in July.
The Washington Education Association, which represents teachers statewide, and Working Together for the 44th House have combined to spend $287,000 on mail pieces and television ads supporting Wilson, a veteran high school teacher and active WEA member.
Working Together for the 44th is funded mostly by state employee and health care worker unions and the Washington State Labor Council. The Harry Truman Fund, which backs Democratic House candidates, is also a major contributor.
For comparison, Wilson and Harmsworth had expended $178,693 and $115,860 respectively on their campaigns as of Friday morning, according to online reports posted by the Public Disclosure Commission.
In the meantime, a new political committee has joined the fray on behalf of Harmsworth and voters started receiving the first negative mailers of the campaign.
On Thursday, Change Olympia reported spending $12,877 on mail pieces opposing Wilson. Its sole source of money is the Reagan Fund, which backs Republican House candidates.
The Reagan Fund gets its money from associations of insurers, realtors, builders, dentists and hospitals as well as the Republican State Leadership Committee in Washington D.C.
Also this week, the WEA reported a $13,860 expenditure on a mailer opposing Harmsworth. Until now, all of the union’s spending has been to boost Wilson’s candidacy.
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