Didier accuses Newhouse of illegal campaigning

Clint Didier, a candidate for the 4th Congressional District seat, has accused rival Dan Newhouse of illegal campaign practices, which Newhouse's campaign denies.

In an e-mail dated July 10, Didier's campaign alleged that Chris Voigt, Newhouse's campaign chairman, had used state resources to promote Newhouse's campaign as well as that of Democratic Senator Patty Murray. Both Didier and Newhouse are running as Republicans.

Voigt is also the executive director of the Washington State Potato Commission. In the e-mail, Didier accused Voigt of "using government vehicles to deliver Dan Newhouse campaign signs.," along with other unspecified abuses.

Didier also suggested that Newhouse was colluding with Democrats.

"When I see an establishment Republican who served in the cabinet of a Democrat Governor now teaming up with a state employee who uses taxpayer resources to campaign for him AND a Democrat Senator - I worry that someone is trying to pull a 'Thad Cochran' on us here in Washington State."

Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi won the Republican primary against a Tea Party challenger. Allegations have swirled around the election that many of Cochran's voters had already voted in the Democratic primary and were therefore ineligible.

Tim Kovis, a spokesman for Newhouse, refuted the allegations by e-mail, saying that although the Washington State Potato Commission is established by state law, it is not a state agency; it is funded by potato growers. He also pointed out that Voigt is a volunteer with the Newhouse campaign, not a part of the staff, and Voigt's work was done on his own time. Voigt pays the Commission for the car and is allowed personal use of it, Kovis said.

“Obviously it’s nearly election time, because one of Dan’s opponents is flinging mud everywhere and praying some of it sticks," said Kovis.