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Jamie Dupree's Washington Insider

Posted: 9:04 p.m. Monday, Aug. 16, 2010

Tuesday Primary 8/17 

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By Jamie Dupree

This primary Tuesday has very little suspense, as only two states will go to the polls today, in Washington State and Wyoming, as the November elections are now eleven weeks away.

No incumbents from the Congress seem to be in any danger today, but we don't have our usual slate of sitting lawmakers running unopposed, mainly because of the system being used in Washington State.

The Evergreen State uses what is referred to as a "Top 2" Primary, where all Democrats, Republicans and Independent party candidates are lumped into one race, and the "Top 2" vote getters face off in November.

The plan was first used in 2008, after surviving a legal challenge that stretched all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

There is no guarantee that the top two finishers will be from different parties, so you could theoretically have a November election for Governor, Senate or U.S. House that matches two Democrats or two Republicans.

In Washington State, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) is the main Democratic incumbent, as she looks to win a fourth term in office.

Murray was elected back in 1992, when she was referred to as the "mom in tennis shoes."

Now, she's the veteran incumbent who has been pulling out the stops to get re-elected, and has raised almost $7 million for her campaign.  President Obama will add to that today when he stops in for some campaign events.

Republicans have tried to rally behind Dino Rossi as their preferred candidate to take on Murray in November.

Twice before, Rossi ran for Governor, but lost each time, though not without some controversy, as Rossi was actually certified in the winner in 2004, before losing in a hand recount which generated charges of vote fraud.

Also in the mix for Republicans is a familiar name to any Washington Redskins fan, as former Tight End Clint Didier is running and has raised a good chunk of money.

If any of the eight Washington State incumbents in the U.S. House are to be stopped in their re-election bids this year, that seems more likely to happen come November.

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