Republican Shahram Hadian of Everett, a Christian pastor and former Muslim who now lectures on the threat of radical Islam, has launched a campaign for governor.
Hadian declared his candidacy Saturday afternoon at a rally of political conservatives in Walla Walla. He later posted the news on Facebook:
Today we launched this campaign in Walla Walla, Washington- where the historic roots of our State began. There was great energy in the crowd as we celebrated the conservative principles that have made our Nation so great.
Hadian, a native of Iran, came to the United States at the age of 7. Today, he is a pastor at Christ the King Community Church and founder of the Truth in Love Project.
In 2010, in his first bid for political office, he unsuccessfully challenged state Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, finishing third in the primary.
Hadian isn’t likely to overtake Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna as the party’s torchbearer in the race. But his entrance may signal that some in the party’s right-flank do not find McKenna conservative enough.
However, it’s going to take quite a lot of effort from Hadian to exert any influence on McKenna’s strategy against Democratic candidate U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee.
One need only look back to 2010 for a likely parallel. Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dino Rossi faced an intraparty challenge from the right in Clint Didier and it didn’t seem to alter the course of Rossi’s campaigning.
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