County Republicans split cash in Rep. race

Whitman County’s Republican Party has decided to split its support and campaign funds evenly between the two GOP candidates for the 9th District’s Position 1 seat in the state House of Representatives.

Republican precinct officers from across Whitman County gathered in the Public Service Building at Colfax last Thursday, Sept. 24, to discuss how to proceed with two party candidates on the general election ballot.

Susan Fagan of Pullman and Pat Hailey of Mesa received the most votes in August’s five-candidate primary. Under the state’s “top two” format, they advanced to the general election despite being from the same party.

“We have two candidates who are both solid Republicans,” said Steve Naught of St. John, chair of the county party. “So our body decided to endorse both.”

The November election will be the first time two candidates from the same party will vie for a seat in the Legislature from the 9th District.

Patrick Bell, communications director with the state Republican Party, said this is the first state level election he has heard of with two candidates from the same party.

He said the state party will follow the lead of the local party and will not endorse the campaigns of either candidate.

“We think a lot of both candidates, but as of now we have not put any funding into that race,” he said.

The state will not inject funds into the local race.

Bell added the state has decided to direct its funding to other parts of the state, where Republicans are taking on Democrats.