Oregon Public Broadcasting

Washington State Republicans will descend on Spokane starting Thursday. An estimated 1400 party faithful will attend the State GOP Convention.

Top on the agenda: adopting a new party platform and electing delegates to the national convention. Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports.

Party officials are mum about what might be in the new platform. But if the current one is any guide issues like property rights, lower taxes and even support for Israel are likely to be up for discussion.

Washington Republicans will also elect 37 delegates to send to the national convention in Minneapolis in September. But another key focus is rebuilding the party and getting Dino Rossi elected governor.

Party chair Luke Esser lost his state senate seat two years ago.

Luke Esser: “2006 was a bad year for Republicans. I know that better than just about anyone. We’ve had some work to do re-inspiring Republican grassroots people and I think what’s done that more than anything else is Dino’s campaign. It was like he flipped a switch when he announced in October he was running again.”

Esser says the fate of other Republican candidates in Washington State will hinge on how Rossi fares in the governor’s race.

 Washington Democrats hold their state convention next month – also in Spokane.