Olympia's new shape

There’s no doubt the national concern about the economy is “going to cream some incumbents,” said Todd Donovan, a political science professor at Western Washington University.

But he said Democrats could do better than they did in the primary, when GOP turnout was likely boosted by a marquee U.S. Senate race that saw Dino Rossi fend off his fellow Republican challengers to Sen. Patty Murray.

“Across the state it’s hard to read anything into the primaries, considering that was probably an election that meant more to Republicans than Democrats,” Donovan said.