Judge Lets Washington State Election Challenge Proceed
A judge refused Friday to throw out a Republican challenge to the election of Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire, saying voters deserved a full accounting of how the balloting was conducted.
Democrats had asked for a dismissal after Republicans rested their case after four days of testimony aimed at proving that errors, illegal votes and fraud combined to deprive GOP candidate Dino Rossi of victory last fall.
Republicans are asking Superior Court Judge John E. Bridges to nullify Gregoire’s 129-vote victory and open the way for a new election or for Rossi to be declared the winner. The margin was the smallest of any gubernatorial contest in U.S. history.
“Both sides deserve a full and complete analysis,” Bridges said in allowing the trial to go forward.
In arguing for a dismissal, Democratic lawyer Kevin Hamilton said the GOP had “failed to introduce anything resembling clear and convincing evidence” that the election was invalid.
GOP attorney Harry Korrell said there was “overwhelming evidence of error and neglect.”
Whatever the outcome, the case is expected to be appealed to the state Supreme Court.
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