State GOP puts spotlight on gubernatorial race during Pasco convention (with video)

Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, will not attend Washington’s GOP state convention.

State Chairman Susan Hutchison delivered the news Friday morning to about 2,000 delegates, alternates and other Republican officials seated for the first general session of the convention at TRAC in Pasco. Nevertheless, she said she expected there to be protesters at the convention’s banquet that night, and she urged everyone to be civil but not to be afraid to voice their support for a candidate.

“If you see a camera, feel free to shout whatever slogan you like,” she said. Providing an example, she then shouted “Bill Bryant for governor!”

Bryant’s gubernatorial campaign is one of the state GOP’s shining lights according to delegates and party officials. The former Seattle port commissioner was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at Friday night’s banquet, having officially filed to run for the state’s top office earlier this week.

The drawn-out presidential primary season that left Trump as the last man standing has divided Republicans and created questions about how that division could affect down-ballot races, some said, including the one between Bryant and Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee.

But Republicans at the convention said Bryant’s experience, GOP gains in previous elections and the dissatisfaction of some independents and Democrats with Inslee’s time in office could still get a Republican into the state’s top office, though, said those attending the convention.

“I think he’s the most qualified for the job,” said Brad Gregory, chairman of the Franklin County Republicans. “Even if I wasn’t a Republican I think I’d vote for him.”

Hutchison spent a portion of her Friday morning remarks pointing out how well-poised Republicans are to gain further control of state government. The state party’s coffers and donor list are in good shape, the GOP has majority in the Senate and gained a handful of seats in recent years.

“Look at our big, beautiful red state,” she said, referencing a map of the state displaying election results from the 2012 gubernatorial election. She noted the party can flip Snohomish County, where Democrats eked out a win back then.

Bill Penor, one of four Republican candidates for lieutenant governor, told the crowd that Snohomish County was where he grew up, and that “Bill Bryant’s going to need a lot of help and I’m going to help him” once they are in office.

Bryant isn’t the only one running for governor as a Republican; Bill Hirt of Bellevue also has filed for the position. He has previously run as a Republican for the 48th Legislative District for the state House. But Bryant’s campaign was in full swing at the convention.

“We’ve seen so much walk up traffic,” said Elizabeth Catterson, a volunteer staffing the booth for Bryant’s campaign in the TRAC lobby. She added that it’s been great to not have any other Republican contenders and that they’ve seen support from Democrats around the state.

“This isn’t about partisan politics, it’s about leadership,” she said.

Chris Ferguson, a convention delegate for Kitsap County, said he’s firmly behind Bryant. He’s met the gubernatorial candidate, who he said understands the importance of trade to the state’s economy, but more importantly is “personally competent.”

Ferguson has also seen the polling that shows that a Trump nomination threatens Republicans running for lower offices. And there’s a wariness from some other party members about how the current tone of politics could be endangering Republicans’ chances in the future.

“If we don’t get our act together, we’re in trouble,” said Louise Allen, a 101-year-old delegate from Camano Island. “We can’t just put on a face for whoever is taking our picture.”

Others, though, aren’t as worried.

“The party’s split at the presidential level. At the state level, not so much,” said Dave Hanthorn, who graduated from what is now Richland High School in 1963 and is a delegate for King County’s Republicans.

This story was originally published May 20, 2016 at 2:58 PM with the headline "State GOP puts spotlight on gubernatorial race during Pasco convention (with video)."