I talked with Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz about 30 minutes ago at the Westin. He was reading the early results as bad news for Bill Sherman's run for county prosecutor.

"We weren't given much of a chance when Norm Maleng died and we took a hard run at it."

Sherman, who has not conceded, may have been hurt by a general conservative bent to the low-turnout day. I asked Pelz, though, if he had any second thoughts about the strong emphasis Sherman and his Democratic supporters put on the partisan nature of the prosecutor's race.

"The 46 percent demonstrates that partisanship matters."

And Pelz said that many Democrats are unhappy with Democrats who backed Republican Dan Satterberg instead of Sherman.

"There was a lot of attention paid to a few rogue Democrats who deserted the party."

Two names immediately came to my mind, Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle, and Jenny Durkan, the prominent Democratic attorney. But Pelz said party members he's heard from are upset about "elected Democrats." There's no interest, though, in trying to get the party to reprimand Kline or any other official.

"We think the party label means something. We want Democrats to respect the term 'Democrat.'"

"Governors don't take a position on county races."