WSUV professor enters race for 3rd Congressional District seat
Long joins three other Democrats in quest to replace Herrera Beutler
By Zack Hale, The Daily News
Published: November 17, 2017, 7:00pm
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Politic science professor Carolyn Long speaks during a forum on the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision at Washington State University Vancouver in January 2012. (The Columbian files)
LONGVIEW — The race for Southwest Washington’s 3rd Congressional District just got a little more crowded.
Carolyn Long, a political science professor at Washington State University Vancouver, filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Nov. 13 to join three other Democratic candidates vying to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler next fall.
This will be her first campaign for public office.
“I think there are a lot of good candidates who have chosen to run for the 3rd Congressional District, and I’m excited to join that group,” Long told The Daily News Friday afternoon.
Long, 50, said she looks forward to discussing her candidacy in more detail at her official campaign kickoff event later this month.
Long said she plans to take partial leave of absence from her 22-year tenure at the university to pursue the race. Long holds a doctorate from Rutgers University in New Jersey and has held a number of administrative and leadership positions at WSU Vancouver. She is currently a professor in WSU Vancouver’s school of politics, philosophy and public affairs.
The other candidates for the 3rd District include David McDevitt, Dorothy Gasque and Peter Harrison.
McDevitt, a Vancouver businessman, ran for the congressional seat last year and lost to state Rep. Jim Moeller by 14 points in the August Democratic primary. He’s looking to build more name recognition by hosting dozens of town hall events across the district by next summer.
Gasque, an Iraq War veteran, was a prominent Bernie Sanders supporter last year and represented Clark County as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention. The Hazel Dell resident filed her paperwork with the FEC on Jan. 10 and announced her candidacy in June.
Peter Harrison is a Vancouver-based businessman and professional writer who holds degrees in computer science and biology. He’s lived in Vancouver since 2000; his wife graduated from Castle Rock High School. Harrison filed his paperwork with the FEC in February and announced his candidacy early last month.
With Long’s entrance into the race, at least 20 congressional candidates have filed in Washington — a new state record for this early stage in a federal election.
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