Seattle – It’s a tough day for Washington Republicans. Their last hope for someone other than little-known Port Commissioner Bill Bryant to run for Governor, Republican Congressman Dave Reichert, announced today he won’t join the race. This announcement follows refusals from State Senators Andy Hill and Steve Litzow to run against our Governor Jay Inslee. “Dave Reichert understood he was going to face an uphill climb having to defend his record to Washington voters — a decade of fealty to Republican leadership in D.C. taking vote after vote against Washington state values,” said Jaxon Ravens, Washington State Democrats Chair. “Now the Republicans are left with little-known Bill Bryant, after every other Republican approached to run turned down the offer. Bryant has run a listless campaign that has gained no traction and has burned through money. This latest recruiting failure must have heads hung pretty low at Republican headquarters right now.” The Republican Governors Association recruited Dave Reichert to run for Governor, calling him urging him to run in September. Republican Port Commissioner Bill Bryant, who announced his run for governor this May by accidentally making campaign website live, is a former registered lobbyist who has given over $50,000 of his personal wealth electing conservative politicians like George W. Bush and Mitch McConnell. The last two months, he has spent nearly ever dollar he has raised, over a year out from the general election. August-September 2015: Bill Bryant Raised $105,529 & Spent $103,694 September 2015: Bill Bryant Raised $51,993; Spent $50,339. In September 2015, Bill Bryant’s campaign reported receiving a total of $51,992.83 in contributions and spending $50,338.73. [Bill Bryant C4, Washington Public Disclosure Commission, Filed 10/13/15]  August 2015: Bill Bryant Raised $53,536; Spent $53,356. In August 2015, Bill Bryant’s campaign reported receiving a total of $53,535.92 in contributions and spending $53,355.54. [Bill Bryant C4, Washington Public Disclosure Commission, Filed 9/10/15]  ###