State Representative Roger Goodman (D-Kirkland) announced today that he was dropping his bid for the open seat in Washington's 1st Congressional District, and would instead run for reelection to the legislature.

"Having campaigned hard in this huge, new 'swing' congressional district, and working under the brutally relentless pressure to raise the startling amount of money now needed for congressional campaigns, I have decided to continue representing my constituents in the State Legislature," Goodman wrote in a prepared statement.

Neither the announcement nor the timing came as much of a surprise. Goodman had worked the district hard, but was having trouble keeping pace in the Democratic fundraising race dominated by Suzan DelBene, Laura Ruderman, and Darcy Burner. He was also the only 1st CD candidate out of eight who would have had to give up an elected office in order to continue to run.

As for the rest of the field, it's hard to argue that Goodman's exit doesn't favor Burner. Both Goodman and Burner have run aggressively liberal campaigns, potentially splitting that segment of the Democratic base, with Roadkill Senator Steve Hobbs staking out a more conservative position, and DelBene and Ruderman jostling near the center. With Goodman out, Burner will find it easier to differentiate herself from the rest of the field.