Democrats Appear to Have Found 4th District Congressional Candidate

Based upon a recent round of endorsements, it seems Yakima-based Estakio Beltran is headed for the ballot battle in August.

Beltran, who grew up in Yakima, attended Davis High School and then Gonzaga,  has been considered a fast-rising political figure.  Beltran has appeared to have grabbed most of the momentum on the Democratic side from a field of candidates.   The 4th District Congressional race is considered wide open since Doc Hastings has announced he is retiring at the end of the year.

He has served Congressionally as a senior aide to a California legislator, and threw his hat in the ring for the race to win the 4th. District seat.

Beltran earlier picked up the official endorsement of the Yakima County Democratic Party, and this week has been endorsed by Benton County Democratic Central Committee.   He has already picked up the following endorsements:

• Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council AFL-CIO
• Hanford Atomic Metal Trades Council
• Teamsters Local Union 839
• Southeast Washington Labor Council.

A recent informational release by his campaign says if elected, his first piece of legislation would be a bill that would force politicians-legislators to forfeit their pay if the government is shut down.  The "No Work - No Pay" Act would use that money for budget deficit reduction and programs to help out-of-work families.

There are several other candidates still in play, but with the official endorsement of the Yakima and Benton County Democratic Committees - as well as other notable backers,  Beltran appears to have the inside track for the Democratic position.

The Primary in August will narrow down the field to two candidates to replace Hastings in the House of Representatives.

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