Dino Rossi Vs. The Democrats: The Week In WA-8, May 29

ISSAQUAH, WA - Last Monday at Bellevue College, two of the leading Democratic candidates in the race for Washington's 8th Congressional District threw some punches - and with such a crowded primary field, it's likely the first of many scuffles to come.

According to KUOW, Democrat Jason Rittereiser accused Dr. Kim Schrier, a pediatrician at Virginia Mason in Issaquah, of not treating enough children who are on Medicaid. Here's how KUOW's Amy Radil described the exchange:

At a recent public forum at Bellevue College, Rittereiser criticized Schrier for not treating more Medicaid patients in her pediatric clinic.

“How are we going to trust that you’re going to fight for healthcare in D.C., when you built a practice here that has refused to treat the vast majority of poor kids on Medicaid?” he said.

Schrier responded that her practice accepts some Medicaid contractors and not others. She said attacking a doctor is misguided because “insurance companies hold all the cards.” All three candidates support moving to single-payer healthcare.

Not exactly a "Little Marco" moment, but it was still an important exchange. The WA-8 race is being watched around the nation, and for the first time in more than a decade, there are at least three strong Democratic candidates in the race. Most likely, only one of them is going to make it past the primary, so someone has to emerge as the clear front-runner - and soon. (In Washington primaries, the top two voter-getters advance to the general, and the top two could be from the same party.)

Historically, the WA-8 primary has almost always had at least three Democratic candidates (except in 2014). But the leading candidate was clearer in each of those races. One Democrat has typically routed the competitors. In the 2008 primary, Darcy Burner beat the next closest Democrat by 41 points (although the district had different boundaries at that time).

Here's a look at how the Democratic candidates fared by the time the primary rolled around:

2016

• Tony Ventrella - 17.01%
• Santiago Ramos - 13.82%
• Alida Skold - 8.36%

2014

• Jason Ritchie - 28.81%
• Keith Arnold - 8.69%

2012

• Keith Porterfield - 28.35%
• Keith Arnold - 5.46%
• Ernest Huber - 3.18%

2010

• Suzan Del Bene - 26.85%
• Tom Cramer - 9.5%
• Keith Arnold - 2.11%
• John Orlinski - 1.09%

2008

• Darcy Burner - 44.53%
• James Vaughn - 3.31%
• Keith Arnold - 1.23%

For WA-8 voters, it's going to be interesting few months before the primary to see how the three leading Democrats differentiate themselves. N

Endorsements (May 22 - 29)

Schrier - American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Washington

Hader - 11th Legislative District Democrats (Renton, Tukwila), 41st Legislative District Democrats (Sammamish, Bellevue), Retired Public Employees Council of Washington, 31st Legislative District Democrats (Enumclaw, Bonney Lake)

Upcoming Events

• May 31 - Phone Banking with Team Shannon! Thu 6 PM, 204 Auburn Avenue, Auburn
• June 2 - Doorbelling with Shannon! Sat 11 AM, 204 Auburn Avenue, Auburn
• June 9 - Jason Rittereiser at Kittitas County Summer Celebration, Teanaway Ranch in Cle Elum
• June 16 - WA-8 candidate breakfast (state Democratic party convention), Wenatchee Convention Center
• June 16 Meet & Greet with Jason Rittereiser in Ballard! 6 PM Kangaroo and Kiwi, Seattle

Archive photo via Getty Images