AUBURN, Wash. – Senator Pam Roach is the state's longest current serving senator.
Her opponent, Republican state Representative Cathy Dahlquist, hopes painting Roach as the most controversial will end Roach's run.
Roach was first elected to the Senate in 1990. She called her seventh re-election attempt the "nastiest" she's even been in.
Roach was barred from Republican Senate meetings, accused of creating a hostile work environment and this year agreed to pay back more than $5,000 in state funds after she was accused of using taxpayer dollars to pay for her campaign.
Dahlquist, a former school board member, said after nearly a quarter of a century, it's time for a change.
"I think as a sitting senator," said Dahlquist, "you have to reach the highest bar of integrity and moral character. If you can't do that, I don't know how you're representing the people."
Roach said she agreed to pay the money, but did not say she made any mistakes.
"Somebody said I needed to repay, and I did. Do I think that's arguable, yes. Am I going to argue now, no," said Roach.
Roach said Dahlquist is guilty of campaign funding violations and Roach filed a complaint with the state against Dahlquist.
She said it's "sad" Dahlquist is making personal attacks in the campaign.
"The problem here is she has nothing else to stand on," said Roach. "Her voting record isn't as good as mine. It isn't."
