Ex-Sen. Gorton backs Seattle port commissioner for governor; Reichert still weighing decision

Republican candidate for governor Bill Bryant picked up another endorsement from a prominent Republican on Friday, this time from former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton.

Bryant, a Port of Seattle commissioner who is challenging incumbent Gov. Jay Inslee in 2016, also has been endorsed by former Washington Gov. Dan Evans.

Gorton’s endorsement lends some weight to Bryant’s campaign, which has been shadowed by speculation that he might not be the only Republican looking to challenge Inslee, a Democrat who is seeking a second term.

U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Auburn, is still considering whether to enter the race, the congressman’s chief of staff said Friday.

But the Reichert rumors didn’t stop Gorton from throwing his support behind Bryant on Friday, saying the port commissioner and businessman will be “a far more effective leader” than Inslee.

“In both his private and public positions, Bill Bryant has demonstrated the ability to pull people together to focus on pragmatic solutions,” Gorton said in an endorsement video.

The state Democratic Party, unsurprisingly, took a different view.

“I think it speaks to the sad state of his campaign that it’s news when a Republican endorses him,” said Jamal Raad, spokesman for the Washington State Democrats.

Raad said Bryant has run “a fairly invisible campaign” since announcing his run for governor in May.

So far, Inslee has raised $2.3 million for the 2016 campaign and spent about $1.2 million, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission.

Meanwhile, Bryant had raised about $544,000 and spent $181,421 as of Friday.

Other Republicans who were seen as potential challengers to Inslee in 2016 recently said they wouldn’t challenge the first-term governor. Those include state Sen. Andy Hill, R-Redmond, and state Sen. Steve Litzow, R-Mercer Island.

This story was originally published September 18, 2015 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Ex-Sen. Gorton backs Seattle port commissioner for governor; Reichert still weighing decision."