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Fellow Democrats Challenge Washington Lt. Gov Brad Owen

NWNews | By Austin Jenkins,
Austin Jenkins
Published October 6, 2015 at 2:07 PM PDT
Washington Lt. Governor Brad Owen has hinted that he's thinking about retiring after serving five terms.
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Washington Lt. Governor Brad Owen has hinted that he's thinking about retiring after serving five terms.

Washington Lt. Governor Brad Owen hasn’t announced if he intends to seek a sixth-term next year. But he already faces challenges from two fellow Democrats who are betting he won’t run.

It’s rare in politics for someone from the same party to challenge an incumbent. The tradition is to wait for the incumbent to announce he or she is not running. Then the seat is fair game.

But unwritten rules and tradition have been tossed out when it comes to Washington’s 2016 race for Lt. Governor. Already two Democratic state senators have announced they’ll run: Cyrus Habib from Seattle’s eastside and, now, Karen Fraser from Olympia.

The race has also drawn a Republican candidate, Javier Figueroa, mayor pro tem of University Place near Tacoma.

Incumbent Lt. Governor Owen has registered a 2016 campaign committee. But he’s also hinted that he’s thinking about retirement.

Copyright 2015 Northwest News Network
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News DemocratsWashington state politicsDemocratic PartyWashington state Democrats
Austin Jenkins
Since January 2004, Austin Jenkins has been the Olympia-based political reporter for the Northwest News Network. In that position, Austin covers Northwest politics and public policy as well as the Washington State legislature. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) Emmy-nominated public affairs program "Inside Olympia." Prior to joining the Northwest News Network, Austin worked as a television reporter in Seattle, Portland and Boise. Austin is a graduate of Garfield High School in Seattle and Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut. Austin’s reporting has been recognized with awards from the Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors, Public Radio News Directors Incorporated and the Society of Professional Journalists.
See stories by Austin Jenkins
Austin Jenkins
Since January 2004, Austin Jenkins has been the Olympia-based political reporter for the Northwest News Network. In that position, Austin covers Northwest politics and public policy, as well as the Washington State Legislature. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) Emmy-nominated public affairs program "Inside Olympia."
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