Secretary of State tries to make presidential primary worthwhile

It is Washington’s quadrennial quandary.

Every four years, the conversation starts anew on how to make this state’s presidential primary meaningful in the process of electing the nation’s next leader.

And should an election even be held if it can’t be done? Conducting a primary in 2016 will cost taxpayers an estimated $11.5 million.

The predicament is that voters desire one thing and the Democratic and Republican parties want something else, leaving the state’s chief election officer to bring the opposing forces together.

Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman thinks she can pull it off for 2016, though she needs support of the Legislature and agreement from the Democratic Party.

More on her plan in a moment. Here’s the history:

Washington is first, and forever, a caucus state. At those caucuses, the truly faithful of the Democratic and Republican parties gather to choose the delegates to the national conventions, where each party officially nominates its candidate for the Oval Office.

In 1988, a few voters got it in their heads that they wanted a say in the process. More than 200,000 people signed an Initiative to the Legislature calling for a presidential primary to give voice to a far greater number of the state’s voters.

In theory, presidential candidates would take note of this new primary and make sure the trails of their campaigns passed through Washington.

It worked pretty well in 2000 when, with no incumbent in the race, the four leading presidential candidates — Republicans George Bush and John McCain and Democrats Al Gore and Bill Bradley — campaigned in the state ahead of the primary. Bush and Gore won and went on to win their party’s nominations.

But for the most part, it hasn’t turned out that well. The state canceled the primary in 2004 and 2012, and some wonder if it shouldn’t be stopped entirely.

That’s because the Democratic Party ignores the election results and chooses its delegates solely on voting in caucuses. At this point that’s what it will do in 2016.

The Republican Party has allotted half its delegates based on the primary-election results, with caucus voting deciding the rest. That’s its intention in 2016.

Enter Wyman, the only Republican in statewide office, with a plan for dealing with the dilemma in 2016 when, as in 2000, there’s no incumbent running.

She’s pushing a bill to move up the date of Washington’s primary from May to March 8, putting it just one week after the Super Tuesday binge of contests.

Her proposal also requires the two major parties to assure her they will use the results in allocating a percentage of delegates. It doesn’t tell them how big a percentage, just that they will. Republicans are on board, Democrats are not, yet.

An earlier primary could lure the Democratic Party to sign on because that could give Washington Democrats a bit more sway if there are multiple candidates.

“The nominating process and the date of the primary really influence whether presidential candidates come to our state to campaign to voters or merely come through to fund raise,” she said Tuesday.

If Democrats get on board, next year voters will pick-a-party and get a ballot with only that party’s candidates.

If not, all candidates of all parties will appear on the same ballot, turning the primary into little more than a beauty contest that costs $11.5 million. That could incite calls for the state to cancel the primary.

Gov. Jay Inslee may already know the answer. He eliminated funding for the primary in his proposed budget, which means he wants to cancel it.

Wyman isn’t ready to throw in the towel.

“I don’t think we’re there yet,” she said. “We need the results of the presidential primary to mean something. This election is too important.”

Political reporter Jerry Cornfield’s blog, The Petri Dish, is at www.heraldnet.com. Contact him at 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com and on Twitter at @dospueblos

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Bodies of two men recovered after falling into Eagle Falls near Index

Two men fell into the falls and did not resurface Saturday, authorities said. After a recovery effort, two bodies were found.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.