Another Potential Inslee Successor Enters the Fray

Just a hours after Jay Inslee's official announcement of candidacy for Governor this morning, the field of potential successors to his 1st District seat is already filling in.

This morning, we learned of a campaign by businessman Darshan Rauniyar. Rauniyar was born in Nepal, and came to the Northwest as a college student in the 1980s. He's a first-time candidate for public office, but he's been active in local Democratic Party politics for over a decade. Rauniyar's announcement was thick with praise for Jay Inslee, as well as relatively standard Democratic language about jobs, education and health care.

Rauniyar joins what is shaping up to be a crowded field. State Rep. Marko Liias of Edmonds, a young politician considered by many to be a rising star, has also declared an interest. Former State Rep. Laura Ruderman is also in the race, she sought the seat in 1998, but bowed out when Jay Inslee declared his candidacy. The most unusual campaign to date is that of State Rep. Roger Goodman, who has taken dead aim on an issue that was all but untouchable only a few years ago- marijuana policy and the drug war. No Republican has yet to even declare an interest, but in a reliably Democratic District, that isn't a huge surprise.

And of course, the specter of a carpetbagging bid by Dennis Kucinich still hangs over the field, threatening to turn an interesting race into a very weird one, and to bring national attention to Western Washington.

It's too early to make any sense of this group. There's no polling, no endorsements, and no candidate with a huge advantage in biography or profile.

We'll keep an eye on all of these candidates (and any more that crop up) until the dust settles.