Democratic U.S. Reps. Rick Larsen and Jay Inslee were coasting easily to re-election Tuesday night.
The two men faced Republican opponents with plenty of desire but few resources to mount a serious challenge.
Larsen was leading former Snohomish County Sheriff Rick Bart 63.7 percent to 36.3 percent in their duel for the 2nd Congressional District seat.
A victory will give Larsen, 43, of Everett, a fifth term representing residents from Mukilteo to the Canadian border. The district spans all of Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan counties and parts of Snohomish and King counties.
Larsen on Tuesday night said there is much work ahead for Congress and Democratic president-elect Barack Obama.
“The economy is job one, and the American people should be expecting Congress to work on that,” he said.
Bart, 60, was making his first bid for Congress. He served 12 years as county sheriff, stepping down in December because of term limits.
Bart entered the race knowing it would be costly and difficult to win. His campaign never gained much traction as Republicans throughout the district focused on aiding the efforts of Dino Rossi and a slew of legislative candidates.
Meanwhile Larsen proved a prolific fundraiser. He had amassed $1.25 million to Bart’s $46,232 as of Oct. 15, according to federal campaign finance reports. And at that point Larsen had nearly $400,000 in the bank to Bart’s $2,492.
Larsen campaigned on his record, citing passage of a law creating the Wild Sky Wilderness in eastern Snohomish County and commitments to build a clinic for veterans in Mount Vernon.
Larsen voted for the $700 billion economic bailout package and Bart criticized him sharply for doing so.
The congressman contended it would bring stability to financial markets and help homeowners facing foreclosure. The challenger said it would increase the national debt without aiding homeowners as promised.
Inslee was leading Redmond businessman Larry Ishmael 69.2 percent to 30.8 percent in the 1st Congressional District. The two men faced off in 2006 and the congressman won by nearly as large a margin.
With a win, Inslee, 57, of Bainbridge Island, will earn a sixth term in the U.S. House of Representatives serving residents in parts of Snohomish, King and Kitsap counties. Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mill Creek and Monroe are in this district.
“I think it is a good night for all Americans. We have an opportunity with Barack Obama to forge a new consensus in this country,” he said.
“He is a leader fueled by optimism and powered by hope” that will unite Americans, he said.
Ishmael, 56, founder and managing partner of Suasor Consulting Group Ltd., had as much trouble mounting a fight against Inslee this time as he did in 2006.
Like Bart, Ishmael lacked the amount of money and assistance from the national party for the effort.
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