SEATTLE RED

A vote is a terrible thing to waste

Jan 2, 2018, 10:09 AM | Updated: 10:10 am

When legal wrangling concludes, control of the Virginia legislature will be decided by drawing lots, or pulling names from a bowl — because of a tie vote in the 94th District. Republican incumbent David Yancey and challenger Shelly Simonds both got 11,608 votes but if the Democrat wins the draw, the legislature’s lower house will split 50-50, ending an era of Republican dominance. Imagine: if a single Virginia Republican had gotten off his apathy to go to the polls, the conservative — who won the district last time by 15 percent points — would still hold the seat and, with it, the legislature.

On Election Day, a little-known Libertarian candidate who barely campaigned drew 675 votes. If this fringie had gotten a hundred fewer votes it would have changed nothing; but if just one of his deluded followers had backed the Republican, it would have changed everything.

Remember: your vote is too precious, too powerful to waste on laziness or feckless gestures.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, interacts with people at the monument to merchant Kuzma Mi...

Associated Press

The Kremlin hopes the US election shake-up won’t shift Trump’s negotiations on Ukraine

The Republicans’ defeat in the U.S. midterm elections was watched closely in Russia, where some observers are predicting it could herald more support for Ukraine when the Democrats take over Congress in January. But if the Kremlin is hearing the ticking of a clock on its nearly 5-year-old full-scale invasion of its neighbor, it seemingly […]

10 minutes ago

This NOAA satellite image shows the magnitude of the storm moving inland from the Pacific Ocean. (P...

Ted Buehner, KIRO Newsradio Meteorologist

What to expect as Western Washington’s first big fall storm arrives Saturday night

The fall season’s first strong weather system will sweep through Western Washington tonight, bringing strong winds and rain.

7 hours ago

Associated Press

US military says it fired on commercial vessel in Gulf of Oman after it attempted to breach blockade

JERUSALEM (AP) — U.S. Central command said late Saturday that it disabled the St. Kitts-flagged ship after it ignored multiple warnings and attempted to leave the region after visiting an Iranian port. U.S. forces have been enforcing a naval blockade on Iran for months. The attack comes a day after the military carried out limited […]

8 hours ago

FILE - President Donald Trump waves alongside Dana White, president and CEO of UFC, as they arrive ...

Associated Press

Trump says he’s asked UFC’s Dana White to be his press secretary. No one will say if he’s joking

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump said Saturday that he has offered the job of White House press secretary to his friend and UFC boss Dana White, an announcement unconventional even for the norm-busting president and one that nobody in the White House immediately confirmed. Trump, while he was at his golf […]

8 hours ago

Associated Press

Chimp sanctuary delivers an ape’s food by drone amid Florida floods

A Florida chimpanzee sanctuary had to deliver food to one of its 200 apes by drone this week because the property was swamped by heavy rain. But the animals stayed safe, and the water finally was receding significantly on Saturday, the organization said. As rainstorms soaked southeast and central Florida from Sunday through Tuesday, Save […]

9 hours ago

Associated Press

Israel’s president taps opposition candidate Eisenkot to form a government, in setback for Netanyahu

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Saturday night that he was giving opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot the first opportunity to form a governing coalition following elections on Oct. 27. Eisenkot, a former military chief, ran as the main challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leading a bloc of parties seeking to oust Israel’s […]

10 hours ago

A vote is a terrible thing to waste