Phil Talmadge Drops Out Of Governor's Race
Campaign spokeswoman Catherine Kovell said the tumor is not cancerous, but the retired Supreme Court justice needs to focus on his health and not the rigors of a hotly contested primary.
Talmadge, 53, collapsed at a Bellevue restaurant last week - his own birthday dinner hosted by his family - and was taken to Overlake Hospital, where doctors diagnosed the tumor, Kovell said in an interview.
"It's not cancer, thank God, but he may have to have surgery," she said. "This comes at the worst possible time, of course, for a campaign. It is causing him some trouble. It's not a good time to be campaigning."
Talmadge also has been ailing politically. Polls showed him running a distant third in the race for the Democratic nomination, behind Attorney General Christine Gregoire and King County Executive Ron Sims.
Talmadge also trails in fund-raising and in securing key endorsements.
Former state Sen. Dino Rossi is the favorite for the Republican nomination to replace Democrat Gary Locke, who is not seeking a third term.
In an interview Wednesday, Talmadge talked about his health, but did give specifics. At that time he said he was assessing his campaign and expected to decided shortly.
"I have some health issues," he said. "Nothing life-threatening, just annoying. I'm having some health challenges, mid-life health stuff."
Kovell said that after that interview, Talmadge spoke further with his doctor and family and decided to quit the race.
Talmadge, an appeals attorney who represented West Seattle for 16 years in the state Senate and served six years on the Supreme Court, was the first candidate to jump into the race. That was two years ago, long before Locke decided to bail out after eight years. He now becomes the first high-profile Democrat to leave the fray.
After the powerful Washington Education Association endorsed Gregoire on April 17, Talmadge said he would have to reassess his candidacy. A few days later, he decided to soldier on.
But right after that, he discovered the cause of recent health problems. He was admitted to the hospital April 20 last week and stayed several days. He quietly suspended campaigning, canceling a weekend appearance in Pierce County, but Kovell said he didn't decide until this Wednesday that he couldn't continue the campaign.
"It has really been rough," she said. "After talking with his family and doctors, they decided, you don't want to mess with your health."
Talmadge told his campaign staff his decision on Wednesday, and there was sadness and weeping all around, Kovell said.
Talmadge doesn't plan to endorse anyone for governor, she said. He has been sharply critical of Gregoire, the front-runner, and differs with Sims on Sound Transit and a variety of issues.
Talmadge said Gregoire probably will receive the state Labor Council's endorsement on May 8, to go with numerous other labor endorsements. Locke is expected to endorse her and state Democratic Chairman Paul Berendt is quietly in her camp, Talmadge said.
"She will tie up virtually the entirety of the Democratic support groups out there," Talmadge said, describing the frustration of trying to get traction against her.
Kovell said Talmadge is likely to stay active in politics, but hasn't set his sights on another race yet.
"Nothing concrete, but he does plan to get back into politics," she said.