Just received email communication from the Craig Pridemore campaign. One of the more progressive candidates (and my personal favorite) in the race has withdrawn and endorsed Denny Heck.
From the press release:
VANCOUVER: State Senator Craig Pridemroe (D-Vancouver) today announced he was ending his campaign for the open seat on Washington’s 3rd Congressional District. Pridemore, a two term legislator who chairs the State Revenue Forecast Council and sits on the budget writing Ways and Means Committee, cited the intense, prolonged session as setting him too far behind the fundraising pace of Olympia Businessman Denny Heck.
Pridemore, who in recent weeks won the coveted endorsements of the Sierra Club and the Washington State Labor Council, issues the following statement:
“I want to first of all thank all of the individuals and organizations who supported my campaign. I am so grateful to have earned your trust, and look forward to continued service in the State Senate. I am especially humbled by the endorsements of organizations and friends who have rallied in recent weeks, knowing that we left the session with a steep hill to climb. Thank you.
I regret the need to exit this race, but it is clear to me that the long session placed our campaign at a clear disadvantage. While I wish I had been able to focus on my campaign earlier, I am proud that my focus this winter was where it needed to be: addressing the real issues facing the working families and small businesses of Southwest Washington. I entered politics to excel at public service, not the other way around.
I also want to congratulate and offer my immediate and full endorsement to Denny Heck, who is now in the best position—and is the best candidate—to win the seat in November. Denny is a bright, hard working and authentic SW Washington leader and we need his broad experience working for us in Congress. I encourage my supporters to help him and Senator Patty Murray in their elections this November.”