April 15, 2010
This November the state GOP is targeting Democratic sate legislators from “the Crescent”—the sweep of swing-district turf that cradles the Puget Sound one tier out to the North, South and East of Seattle. One vulnerable legislator, State Sen. Claudia Kauffman (D-47, parts of southeast King County from the Renton Highlands to Kent to Black Diamond), was supposed to get cover from her caucus so she could vote “No” on the Democratic budget, which includes $794 million in new taxes.
Democratic leadership had counted up 25 votes—the number necessary to pass legislation in the Senate—and thought they had enough without Sen. Kauffman. Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen (D-10, Camano) surprised many and voted “No” at the last minute and Kauffman was forced to vote “Yes.”