NEWS GLEAMS | Washington Primaries Serve as National Bellwether; Family of Man Who Died in King County Jail Sues County

by Vee Hua 華婷婷

Washington Primary Elections Serve as Bellwether for National Elections

Recent analyses from ABC News show that, since the early 1990s, primary elections for the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington State have served as a fairly accurate indicator of trends to be expected during the national election in November. They cite that the predictive connection stems from the timing of Washington State's primary, which occurs in late August — not too long before the primary election — and because all Washington State candidates compete in a single primary regardless of what party they may belong to. The top two candidates from all parties then move on to the November election.

Looking back on past primary data for Washington State, ABC News wrote, "In 2020, Democrats won 57 percent in the state's primary and then garnered almost 52 percent of the national House vote, good enough to retain the majority they gained in 2018. But they lost ground in 2022, falling to 55 percent in the Washington primary and then garnering just shy of 49 percent of the national vote as the GOP flipped the House."

Washington State's primary votes for 2024 have now been tallied, and this year, Democrats garnered 58% of the total vote — which is a small uptick from the 55% they received in 2022. The slight uptick, ABC News says, could result in a slight advantage for the national Democratic party come November.

From year to year, however, Washington generally remains at least 5% more Democratic than the national average, even if local ebbs and flows do tend to mirror the ebbs and flows of national trends.

Family of Man Who Died in King County Jail Sues County for $25M

The family of Michael Rowland, a 63-year-old man who died in 2022 after being restrained stomach-down in a King County jail, has sued King County for $25 million. The federal suit filed by the family alleges that King County violated Rowland's civil rights and that its negligent treatment of him caused his wrongful death.

Rowland was one of five people who died in the jail in winter and spring 2022; some of the deaths were caused by suicide and negligence due to lack of adequate staffing. Though records show that Rowland had been combative when he was arrested and transferred to the jail, The Seattle Times reported, "Rowland died after law enforcement officers used a restraint tactic that's been increasingly challenged by the medical community and banned in one state's jails after George Floyd and others were killed in the same position."

In April 2022, Rowland and three other men entered a downtown Seattle hotel, where Rowland was apparently suffering a mental health crisis. When police arrived, he told them he was a dragon and a lion who "ate planets." He also slapped a man who he was holding onto by the jacket. The man told police that Rowland was holding him against his will.

Rowland had separated from his wife by the time of the incident, but she visited him regularly, and he still attended family gatherings, according to The Seattle Times. Rowland's loved ones also raised questions about whether he should have been taken into custody to begin with, when what he may have needed was medical attention. Though the King County Medical Examiner's Office labeled Rowland's cause of death "undetermined," Rowland's family and attorney believe it was a homicide.

Following the in-depth report of circumstances surrounding Rowland's death, jail commanders have concluded that correction officers were "reasonable" in their use of force, given the active threats Rowland was making toward them. The Seattle Times reported, "The King County prosecutor determined there wasn't enough evidence to file criminal charges against the officers involved, but recommended an inquest, or public fact-finding process, be conducted."

📸 Featured Image: An election worker closes the ballot box near Uwajimaya in the Chinatown-International District during the primary elections in 2022. (Photo: Jaidev Vella)

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