WHY
WHY THEY
WHY THEY THINK THEY HAVE A SHOT.
SHOT.
SHOT. >>
SHOT. >> THIS IS ONE OF 23 DISTRICTS
NATIONWIDE THAT HILLARY CLINTON
WON BACK IN 2015 -- 2016 THAT
ALSO ELECTED DAVID RIKER.
SOME HAVE SINCE DROPPED OUT
LEAVING THREE CONSIDERED FRONT
RUNNERS.
RUNNERS.
RUNNERS. >> I'M KIM.
>> AND JASON.
>> I AM RUNNING AS A DEMOCRAT.
>> CHECKS AND BALANCES FIGHTING
FOR HEALTHCARE FOR EVERYBODY.
>> AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEND A
DEMOCRAT TO CONGRESS FOR THE
FIRST TIME.
FIRST TIME. >> A HUGE RACE THIS YEAR.
IT IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE TOP
FIVE OR 10 IN THE COUNTRY FOR
POTENTIALLY FLIPPING AROUND
LEADERSHIP.
LEADERSHIP. >> Reporter: THREE DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATES RUNNING WITH THE
SAME GOAL.
SAME GOAL. FOR NOW, COMPETING AGAINST EACH
OTHER TO TRY AND SURVIVE AN
INTENSELY COMPETITIVE AUGUST
PRIMARY AND BATTLE FOR THE
EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
>> CALL ELLENSBURG.
>> Reporter: THE FIRST OF THE
THREE TO ENTER THE RACE LAST
JULY.
JULY.
JULY. >>
JULY. >> I THINK THERE IS A LACK OF
OR GAP IN LEADERSHIP BETWEEN
FOLKS RUNNING OUR COUNTRY TODAY
AND PEOPLE LIKE ME.
>> Reporter: AT 34, HE IS THE
YOUNGEST IN THE RACE, A
MILLENNIAL WHO GREW UP IN
ELLENSBURG BUT MOVED TO WESTERN
WASHINGTON WERE SCHOOL AND
WORK.
WORK.
WORK. FIRST AS A PROSECUTOR FOR KING
COUNTY BEEN IN PRIVATE PRACTICE
AS AN EMPLOYMENT ATTORNEY.
HE BELIEVES HIS CROSS CASCADE
APPEAL GIVES HIM AN EDGE.
>> IF WE ARE GOING TO REPRESENT
THIS DISTRICT WE HAVE TO UNITE
THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS.
PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
ECONOMIC ISSUES THEY HAVE
LARGELY BEEN LEFT BEHIND AND
ARE EXPERIENCING THE TYPE OF
ECONOMIC SECURITY AND
PROSPERITY FOLKS ARE
EXPERIENCING A MORE URBAN
AREAS.
AREAS.
AREAS. I
AREAS. I THINK WE NEED TO FIGHT HARD
TO PROTECT WORKERS RIGHTS,
STAND UP FOR PEOPLE TO FIGHT FOR
THEM TO REBUILD THE MIDDLE
CLASS AMERICA.
CLASS AMERICA. >> COMMAND CENTRAL.
THE FIRST THING WE DECORATED,
WE HAVE A LOT OF SPACE, AS
PROTEST SIGNS BECAUSE
ULTIMATELY I GOT MY START IN
THE WOMEN'S MARCH.
>> Reporter: SHE ENTERED THE
RACE LAST AUGUST IN THE MONTHS
FOLLOWING CONGRESS' EFFORT TO
REPEAL AND REPLACE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT.
CARE ACT.
CARE ACT. >> 2 MINUTES FROM HERE.
I WOULD GO HOME FOR LUNCH, CALL
RIKER'S OFFICE AND MY HUSBAND
WOULD LISTEN IN AND SAY YOU
SHOULD JUST RUN AGAINST HIM.
>> Reporter: SHE LAUGHED OFF HER
HUSBAND'S IDEA AT FIRST BUT
ULTIMATELY RAN TO CHALLENGE THE
INCUMBENT FOR REPRESENTATIVE
DAVE RIKER ANNOUNCED LAST
SEPTEMBER HE WOULD NOT SEEK
REELECTION TO CONGRESS.
NOW SHE IS COMPETING IN AN OPEN
SEAT BUT CONSIDERS HERSELF A
FRONT RUNNER BASED ON HER
FUNDRAISING LEAD, SUPPORT FROM
INTRO -- INFLUENTIAL LOCAL AND
NATIONAL GROUPS.
NATIONAL GROUPS. >> I HAVE THIS RECORD OF
LISTENING TO AND GOING TO BACK
FOR MY PATIENTS.
THIS JUST PIVOTED IN A LITTLE
DIFFERENT WAY.
DIFFERENT WAY. NOT LISTENING TO AND GOING TO
BACK FOR THE PEOPLE IN THIS
DISTRICT WHETHER THE FAMILY OF
THE STREET OR PORTRAITIST OR
AEROSPACE MACHINIST.
AEROSPACE MACHINIST. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF
LISTENING, HEARING WHAT IS ON
PEOPLE'S MINDS AND TAKE THAT TO
THE HALLS OF CONGRESS.
>> Reporter: SHE ISN'T THE ONLY
DR. TURNED CANADA IN THIS RACE.
DR. SHANNON HAIDER ANNOUNCED
HER CANDIDACY THIS PAST JUNE
AFTER LEAVING THE CENTERS FOR
DISEASE CONTROL AS SHE SERVED
AS DIRECTOR OF HIV AND TB.
>> I WORKED UNDER BOTH
ADMINISTRATIONS.
ADMINISTRATIONS. >> THAT INCLUDES THE FIRST NINE
MONTHS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
ADMINISTRATION, ONE OF THE
REASONS SHE SAYS SHE ENTERED
THE RACE.
THE RACE.
THE RACE. >> AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME WHEN
PEOPLE ARE SO FRUSTRATED LACK
OF ACTION LACK OF RESULTS THAT
MATTERS.
MATTERS.
MATTERS. AT THIS TIME WHEN THINGS ARE
GOING BACKWARDS AT SUCH A FAST
RATE I DON'T THINK WE CAN
AFFORD TO HAVE SOMEONE SORT OF
PUT ON TRAINING WHEELS OR LEARN
HOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS BEFORE
THEY CAN GET GOING. I
REALLY AM THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN
THIS RACE WHO CAN START TO
DELIVER DAY ONE.
>> Reporter: SHE BELIEVES HER
FEDERAL EXPERIENCE GIVES HER A
LEG UP DESPITE HER LATE START
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.
>> MY HEAD IS DOWN, I'M GOING
EVERYWHERE IN THIS DISTRICT,
KNOCKING ON DOORS, TALKING TO
PEOPLE, LISTENING.
PEOPLE, LISTENING. TO THEM, THAT MATTERS.
IN MATTERS FOR MOBILIZING
VOTERS TO GET EXCITED WHICH IS
WHAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE TO
WIN.
WIN.
WIN. >>
WIN. >> Reporter: THE THREE
DEMOCRATIC RUNNERS ACKNOWLEDGE
FLIPPING THE DISTRICT WILL BE
AN UPHILL BATTLE IN THE FALL.
>> THIS IS A UNIQUE DISTRICT.
THE ONLY DISTRICT CROSSES THE
CASCADE MOUNTAINS. A
MICROCOSM OF CULTURE. AT ITS
CORE SMALL TOWN, RURAL WORKING
CLASS FOLK.
CLASS FOLK. >> THE STATS OVER THE DISTRICT
WE KNOW WE HAVE A BLOCK OF
BLUE, A BLOCK OF RED AND MOST
IN BETWEEN.
IN BETWEEN. >> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IT IF YOU
HAD TO CHOOSE ONE ISSUE.
>> A LOT OF DIVISION BETWEEN
THESE PEOPLE THE PARTIES AND
BOTH CHAMBERS OF CONGRESS.
IF THERE IS SOME WAY WE CAN GET
THEM TO COOPERATE AND GET THINGS
DONE.
DONE.
DONE. >>
DONE. >> IN A HIGHLY POLARIZED
POLITICALLY UNCERTAIN TIME
VOTERS SAY THEY WANT
BIPARTISANSHIP BUT FIRST THEY
HAVE TO ENDURE WHAT PROMISES TO
BE A HIGHLY PARTISAN ELECTION
SEASON.
SEASON.
SEASON. THE EIGHTH DISTRICT DRAWING
NATIONAL ATTENTION AND SEND IT
IS ONE OF THE SWING DISTRICTS
THAT COULD ULTIMATELY IMPACT
CONTROLS THE U.S. HOUSE.
>> A COMPETITIVE PRIMARY WHOEVER
MAKES IT THROUGH THIS PRIMARY
NEEDS TO BE A REALLY SHARP
CANDIDATE TO TAKE ON AN
ESTABLISHED POLITICIAN WITH
GREAT NAME WORKING MISSION.
>> SHE -- WE WILL BRING YOU A
CANDIDATE PROFILE TOMORROW
EVENING ON KING 5 NEWS.
WE ALSO HAVE MUCH MORE WITH THE
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES IN THIS
RACE ONLINE.
RACE ONLINE. THEY CAME TO OUR STUDIO FOR A
MINI DEBATE.
MINI DEBATE. YOU