Democrat Clough dropping his challenge to U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Jay Clough is dropping his second challenge to Republican Congressman Doc Hastings.

The Democrat announced his decision at a news conference in Richland this morning.

Instead, the 36-year-old former Marine and West Richland resident says he’s turning his efforts toward a November showdown with state Rep. Brad Klippert, R-Kennewick, to stay closer to his family and advocate for education and jobs at the state level.

Klippert, a school resource officer for the Kiona-Benton City School District and adjunct faculty member at Columbia Basin College, is seeking his third term representing the 8th Legislative District.

"It’s clear we need new leadership on job creation and a legislator who will make our public schools the strongest priority for our state government," Clough said in a news release.

Clough, a radiological control technician at Hanford, had been declared a Democratic candidate for the 4th Congressional District for nearly a year. He said in April 2011 he had begun planning to run again from the first day after the election in November 2010, when he lost to Hastings by more than 50,000 votes.

Clough said campaigning around the 4th Congressional District, which covers much of Central Washington from Oregon to the Canadian border, was taking away from time he wanted to spend with his young family. Clough has a wife, Erika, and a 9-month-old daughter.

"Working at the state level will allow me to balance time with my family and serving my community," Clough said.