Incumbent Democratic state Sen. Steve Hobbs (D-44, Snohomish, Mill Creek, Lake Stevens) is being challenged by a Republican from the right and a Democrat from the left. It's a perfect metaphor for Hobbs, a founding member of the "Roadkill Caucus"—a middle-of-the-road, thus "Roadkill," group of Democrats in the legislature who feel marginalized by the battles between liberals and Republicans.

Truth be told, the Roadkill Caucus —which also includes Sens. Jean Berkey, Brian Hatfield, Jim Kastama, Derek Kilmer, Chris Marr, and Mary Margaret Haugen—are more conservative (on economic issues) than moderate. Behind closed doors in caucus, they were the reason the Senate wouldn't repeal a $50 million tax loophole for big banks.

On the floor, the caucus fought to block an extension of unemployment benefits and take away state workers' health care benefits.

Hobbs himself voted to furlough state workers (putting him on the Washington State Labor Council's shit list); against repealing I-960 (Tim Eyman's initiative that requires a two-thirds legislative majority to increase taxes); and against the budget (because, gasp, it included new taxes). He also voted for giving tuition authority to the University of Washington rather than to the legislature and he pushed to privatize liquor sales.

Despite these conservative positions (and despite the fact that PubliCola didn't endorse Hobbs' co-Roadkiller, Sen. Jean Berkey, opting instead for her liberal opponent Nick Harper in the 38th), we recommend Hobbs.

He is a solid progressive vote on social issues (for domestic partners' rights; against gender discrimination; and pro-choice). His moderate status also allows him to reach across the aisle and help bring Republicans along on some social issues like sex ed. (He orchestrated a compromise on the medically accurate sex ed bill that, while disappointing to women's advocates, did bring the GOP along.)

And a big plus: He gets the highest marks from education reformers as a leader in the fight to demand concessions from unions on teacher evaluations.

Moreover, unlike Harper, Lillian Kaufer, Hobbs' Democratic challenger from the left, does not have the resume, focus, or charisma to be a factor in Olympia.

Hobbs' Republican challenger, Dave Schmidt (whom Hobbs beat in 2006) is a lot like Hobbs on economic issues and worse on social issues getting zero ratings from Planned Parenthood and the ACLU during his stint in the legislature. He was also a 'No' vote on the gay rights bill in 2005, when the bill lost by one vote.

PubliCola picks Steve Hobbs.