Jay Inslee	51%
Rick White	43%

Washington voters made a clear choice between pro-environment Jay Inslee and anti-environment Rick White, proving once again that the environmental issue can make the margin of difference at the polls. Voters rejected White in part because he earned a clearly failing grade on the environment, which Inslee profiled prominently in his paid media.

Key Polling Results: 

• The environment plays a major role in the life of this district, and was a decisive issue in this race, with total of 85 percent of voters viewing the environment as very important or somewhat important to their voting decisions. Ninety-four percent of Inslee supporters viewed the environment as very important or somewhat important to their voting decisions.

• Environmental issues were especially important in votes against Rick White, with a plurality of Inslee's voters saying they are voting against White (48 percent, compared to 40 percent voting for Inslee). Among these voters, 33 percent cite White's votes against clean water and other environmental protections as key reasons to oppose him, the highest figure for any set of issues driving opposition to White.

Dirty Dozen Campaign Activities: 

The environment was a defining issue in Washington's first district from the outset in LCV Action Fund's coordinated campaign against Rick White. LCVAF's involvement in the race began with a news conference endorsing White's pro-environment opponent Jay Inslee in mid-August. After White's environmental rating dropped to a 15 percent for 1998 and he began running television ads "greenwashing" his environmental record, LCV Action Fund named him to the Dirty Dozen in mid-October. Soon after White's ad ran, Inslee went on the air the week of October 19 with an ad attacking White for misleading voters about his environmental record. Noting that White was named to LCV's Dirty Dozen list, the Inslee ad says, "If he won't be straight with you about his record on the environment ... why should we trust him at all?" Analysts are claiming that the ad helped move Inslee ahead of White.

Several successful earned media events were held in the district including an event commemorating the enactment of the Clean Water Act. Jay Inslee joined conservationists for a news conference on site highlighting the fact that Seattle's Lake Washington is the most improved body of water in America. To prove their point that the lake's water quality had improved despite votes by both Reps. White and Smith for the "Dirty Water Bill," 10 people jumped into the lake on a 50 degree, rainy day.

Inslee also forced White to explain his anti-environment record by bringing up White's listing on the Dirty Dozen in public debates. In response, White stated to a reporter that he has "the best environmental record of any Republican in Congress" (Roll Call, 10/29/98), claiming to be a friend of the environment when his record of anti-environment votes in Congress says otherwise. LCV countered with a letter to the media from LCV Board Chair, former Republican Governor of Kansas, Mike Hayden, and a news release setting the record straight on White's anti-environment record.