Look to 1980 for top two example

Regarding the Thursday letter, “Both parties are always on ballot”:

I know of at least one time when the top two vote getters in a blanket primary did not make it on the final election ballot and the eventual winner was not one of the those two.

In was in the election of 1980 for governor and the results of the blanket primary were: Democrat Jim McDermott — 32,1256 votes, Democrat Dixy Lee Ray — 23,4252, Republican John Spellman — 16,2426 and Republican Duane Berentson — 16,2426.

The two Republicans combined didn’t have enough votes to match McDermott. If it would have been a top two McDermott and Governor Ray would have been on the final ballot. The most interesting thing is McDermott was never our governor, but by beating him 98,1083 to 74,9813, King County Executive Spellman became governor, the last time a Republican has been elected.

I’m sure if you look to other statewide and district races in the close to 70 years you will find other examples of where the primary candidates of one party were the top two vote getters.

Curt Eidem

Everett