Joan McBride raised $70,000 and rang hundreds of doorbells in mounting a Democratic challenge to Senate Majority Leader Rodney Tom. But she bowed out of the 48th District Senate race exactly a week after Tom announced he is not running for reelection.

Instead, the former Kirkland mayor

Former Kirkland Mayor Joan McBride is stepping aside to allow freshman state Rep. Cyrus Habib to run for the state Senate.

Instead, McBride said Monday morning she’ll run for Habib’s House seat in the Democratic-leaning 48th Legislative District, which includes parts of Bellevue,

Many people are glad that former Kirkland mayor Joan McBride is taking on Rodney Tom in the primary for the 48th District Senate seat. Tom is the Bellevue Democrat who infuriated his own party by joining with Republicans to take over the Senate. Mainstream Democrats want Tom out, and they want him

Citing former Kirkland Mayor Joan McBride’s record of strong leadership, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, State Rep. Cyrus Habib and State Rep. Ross Hunter have endorsed McBride for State Senate in the Eastside’s 48th Legislative District — which includes Redmond. The seat is now