A couple weeks ago, when preliminary redistricting maps bumped longtime Democratic state Senator Margarita Prentice out of her 11th Legislative District and into the 37th LD, she answered "Sure, why not?" to the question of whether she would challenge fellow Democratic Senator Adam Kline, telling the Seattle Times: "They're not going to get rid of me that easily."

Well, apparently, they are:

The political career of Margarita Prentice – including 20 years as a state senator, will come to an end early next January. ... "I will not be active in politics anymore," she said Wednesday.

Dr. Bobby Virk, 40, a Renton orthodontist who was born in the Punjab region of India, announced his candidacy this morning, but that's generally not how these things work. 11th LD Representative Zack Hudgins had already announced he would be vacating his seat to run for Secretary of State, which leaves Representative Bob Hasegawa the senior member of the 11th LD delegation. If Hasegawa wants to move up to the Senate, I'm guessing the party faithful will fall in line. That would leave two House seats open for Virk and other aspirants.

I've got a call in to Hasegawa, to find out his intent.