WA Gov Locke vetoes "Top 2" primary, creates separate party voting

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Locke vetoes "Top 2" primary, creates separate party voting

By DAVID AMMONS
AP POLITICAL WRITER

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Gov. Gary Locke on Thursday used his veto power to create separate party primary elections in the state for the first time since the Great Depression, unraveling lawmakers' preferred replacement for the popular "blanket" primary.

The political parties were delighted, but critics vowed to fight the governor in court and to offer voters a rival plan in November.

Some legislators were furious, but there was no talk of reconvening the Legislature to override Locke. Senate Majority Leader Bill Finkbeiner, R-Kirkland, called the governor's action "a cruel April Fool's joke on state voters."

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