| Republicans in court to contest governor's election Republicans went to court in Wenatchee Thursday to try to convince a judge to set aside the election of Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire. The hearing is likely to continue through the day. After a Chelan County judge rules, the Republicans hope the state Supreme Court will eventually order another vote to finally decide the close race between Gregoire and Republican Dino Rossi. Republicans argue that election worker errors — primarily by King County workers in the Democratic stronghold of Seattle — allowed hundreds and perhaps thousands of illegal votes to be counted. Democrats are asking the judge to dismiss the case, disputing the Republican claims and opposing any revote. Neither Rossi nor Gregoire planned to attend Thursday's hearing. Gregoire is in Olympia, working to establish her authority as governor. Rossi traveled to Washington, D.C., for President Bush’s inauguration. The hearing was attended by several dozen lawyers, several dozen reporters and assorted observers, all gathering at a Wenatchee auditorium. A couple of people outside carried "Rossi Revote" signs and one carries a sign that says "GOP Repent. God hates hypocrisy."
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