Saturday, November 8, 2008

'Netroots' Candidate Concedes Wash. State Race

(Photo Credit: Darcy Burner for Congress via Flickr)

Darcy Burner, the Microsoft program manager and cause célèbre of the liberal blogosphere who was challenging Republican Rep. Dave Reichert for Washington's 8th District seat conceded late Friday after the Associated Press called the race for the incumbent. Three days after the election, 81 percent of precincts had reported and Reichert captured 52 percent of the vote (143,012) while Burner received 48 percent (134,480).

"It is likely at this point that Congressman Reichert has won re-election, and while we will certainly ensure that every valid vote is counted, we accept the decision of the voters," Burner said in a statement thanking her supporters and trumpeting Democratic President-elect Barack Obama's win over GOP Sen. John McCain. Obama's selection "will ensure that the change to the direction of our country called for in this campaign is realized in the new year," she said.

Reichert, a former King County sheriff, sought his third term in the House and this was his second campaign against Burner, whom he narrowly defeated in 2006. The 8th District includes the Seattle area and the headquarters of high-tech giant Microsoft. Burner received $93,894 from Microsoft and its employees this cycle; $104,076 through ActBlue, an online PAC that raises money for Democrats; and thousands more from supporters she won through popular blogs like Daily Kos.

In an interview with the Seattle Times, Reichert said he believed he won because people in the district knew that "what you see is what you get." "I think that there's no rebranding that had to be done here in this campaign," he said. "My years of public service have built a record that people in this community recognize." Burner did not call Reichert to concede Friday night and could not be reached for comment, according to the paper.