Kucinich Plays Coy About Moving To Washington At Fundraiser

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) stopped by the Richmond Masonic Center Sunday to flip pancakes (vegan, of course), schmooze with donors and promote his liberal policies at a fundraiser for the 32nd District Democrats.

Kucinich spent the bulk of his speech and the Q&A that followed railing against big banks, aggressive foreign policy and unsustainable sources of energy, but the question on most everyone’s mind seemed to be the congressman’s political future.

Toward the end of the Q&A, someone broke the silence and asked Kucinich if he was planning to run for U.S. Congress in Washington state.

“I’m hopeful to continue to serve in the United States Congress, but I haven’t made any decisions about where that might be,” Kucinich said. “I’m not here as a candidate. I want to make that clear. I’m sure grateful to be here. I’m just not at the point of making a decision.”

Further pressed by audience members about his future in politics, Kucinich said he will not run for president in 2012 but did not rule out running for Congress in Washington state.

“Obviously, I have to make a decision before the 2012 election and the filing deadline,” Kucinich said. “Am I thinking about it? Next question.”

The area has been abuzz lately with rumors that Kucinich will run for a seat in Washington’s 1st district, which includes Shoreline and chunks of Kistap and Snohomish Counties, if Gov. Christine Gregoire decides not to seek a third term and Rep. Jay Inslee, who currently holds the seat, chooses to launch a gubernatorial campaign.

Since 1997, Kucinich has served as an Ohio representative in a heavily Democratic district that includes much of western Cleveland and a few of its suburbs. However, redistricting resulting from the 2010 Census will likely make it difficult for Kucinich to wage a successful reelection campaign -- and he's not the only one worried about that. 

Although the election is nearly a year and a half away and neither Gregoire nor Inslee has been clear about future political ambitions, nothing has stopped people from speculating, and several recent visits to the area, including a stop in Woodinville Saturday, have done little to dispel rumors that Kucinich is considering packing his bags for the Puget Sound.

State Representative Marko Liias (D-Edmonds) recently indicated he is strongly considering a bid for the congressional seat. Last week he launched an exploratory committee and a Facebook page.

A representative of the 21st District, Liias was not at Sunday’s fundraiser. However, the event drew several local officials, including Shoreline City Councilmember Chris Roberts (and his new son), Councilmember Chris Eggen and State Sen. Maralyn Chase (D-Edmonds).

Chase indicated she would support a Kucinich campaign and said she considers him a good fit for the district.

Click the video to hear Kucinich and supporters at Sunday's event.

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