With ballots scheduled to go out in just over a month, political campaigns and festivities are in high gear. On Saturday, in what has already become one of the premier annual state political events, Rep. J.T. Wilcox held his 4th Annual Salmon Bake outside Yelm. Over three hundred and fifty guests spent a beautiful evening on the Wilcox family farm. House of Representatives Republican leaders and candidates were there in force, but there was also a bipartisan theme.
House Minority Leader Dan Kristiansen speaks to the crowd.
Speaking to the crowd House Minority Leader Dan Kristiansen saluted the Republicans and Democrats who set aside their political differences in the State Senate to form the “backstop” and fought to protect taxpayers and the Washington State economy. He praised Democratic Senator Tim Sheldon who was in attendance and has been one of the members of the Senate Majority Caucus.
Dan went on to point out that cynicism towards government is at an all time high and the Senate Majority Coalition has fought to rebuild the public trust on the critical issues. “Government should serve the people and not the opposite.”
Democratic Senator Tim Sheldon (left), Rep. J.T. Wilcox. and former Democratic Senator Mark Doumit chat at the Salmon Bake.
Rep. Wilcox also touched on the bipartisan theme while urging attendees to support House Republican candidates, because Republican gains in the House could create the conditions for a Majority Caucus there. He believes that the bi-partisan approach in the Senate is popular with voters.
Clearly Republican enthusiasm is up, the attendees at the Salmon Bake demonstrated that. But the House Republicans have a real challenge if they are to gain power in the House. As Dan Kristiansen noted, they need to pick up six seats to create a power-sharing tie in the House and seven for the majority. Which leaves us with the question of whether a Majority Caucus is possible in the House?
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