NorthwestJuly 21, 2000

Associated Press

TACOMA -- Washington Democrats on Thursday agreed to allow the Sept. 19 blanket primary to proceed, after signing a deal with Republicans and state election officials that ensures a new system will be created next year.

U.S. District Judge Jack Tanner approved the deal in an emergency court hearing Thursday afternoon.

The state Democratic Party backed off its demand, made in the wake of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, that the state immediately scrap its 65-year-old "blanket" primary system that has allowed voters to choose candidates from any party for any office.

Instead, the two political parties and Attorney General Christine Gregoire's office agreed on a plan that prohibits the state from conducting future primaries under the current system. In exchange, the parties agreed to withdraw -- for this year only -- their objections to the blanket primary.

In a joint statement, the parties and the state called the agreement "a good result for everyone" since it clarifies how this year's election will be conducted and sets the stage for revamping the system next year.

The Supreme Court, in striking down California's blanket primary, said a political party has the right to determine which voters may participate in the nomination of candidates of that party for public offices.

That prompted Democratic party leaders to demand that single-party ballots be used in the Washington primary.

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State and local election officials said they could not move that fast and lacked the authority to adopt a more restrictive primary system.

Republican Secretary of State Ralph Munro, Democratic Gov. Gary Locke and other elected leaders from both parties argued that the Legislature should be given the time to enact a new primary system next year.

After a week of negotiations, Munro said, the Democratic Party's central committee finally agreed.

"I think Gary Locke and (Democratic Congressman) Norm Dicks and some others finally beat up on them enough that they realized this is crazy," Munro said in a telephone interview.

The agreement does not spell out what changes will be made to the system next year.

But Munro said it gives his office and the Legislature time to gather input from the two major parties, various minor parties and independent voters throughout the state.

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