Brad Shannon:
The Politics Blog

Brad Shannon maintains this blog. He is political editor at The Olympian and can be reached at 360-753-1688 or bshannon@theolympian.com.

Print email

UPDATED -- BLUMENTHAL: U.S. Rep. Smith won't join Obama administration; Zack Hudgins was eyeing seat

• Published February 04, 2009

Comments (0)

Here is an item from Les Blumenthal, our McClatchy Newspapers partners in the Washington, D.C., bureau:

WASHINGTON - Just got off the phone with Rep. Adam Smith who said he was going to run for re-election in 2010 and would not be taking a job in the Obama administration. Smith, who chaired the president's Washington state campaign, had long been rumored for a slot in the administration, perhaps as an assistant secretary of defense.

But while Smith said he had some discussions with the administration early on, he concluded he could best serve the new president by staying in Congress. He chairs the House Armed Service's subcommittee on terrorism and unconventional threats and just returned from a trip to Syria, Israel, Lebanon and Iraq.

Of his talks with the administration, Smith said "it was something I had to explore. But I concluded this is the best place for me. There is no question I am going to run for re-election. I love my job. I love Tacoma and I love the 9th District."

State Rep. Tom Campbell, R-Roy, has said he will run for Smith’s seat, whether Smith runs again or not, according to this blog post in The News Tribune.

UPDATE on original 11:54 a.m. post:

I just talked to state Rep. Zack Hudgins, D-Tukwila. He said he would not run against Smith for the 9th district seat, because he thinks Smith is doing a good job. But, he added: “If it’s an open seat, then I’m very interested in running.’’

Hudgins, is vice chair of the House Select Committee on Environmental Health, which Campbell chairs, and he is House floor leader, where he marshals the House Democratic Caucus forces for floor fights. He also has been a caucus leader during the interim in recruiting and supporting candidates through the House Democratic Campaign Committee.

As a lawmaker, he says he’s had a hand in steering bills to passage on toxic toys and banning toxic flame retardants known as PDBEs.