In WA State, the GOP has run some very solid candidates for Senate and Governor over the past decade. The problem is, the GOP in the state is just way far right. So, in the primary, these guys move to the right and then try to move back to the middle for the general. Too late!!! You notice how most of these races go? The GOP seems to be leading or tied in polls through September and then of course, the "coming home" effect happens as most undecided voters vote for the majority party and then the Democratic nominee wins each time.
In OR, the GOP bench is empty. They have nothing going there and haven't won a state race (even down ballot I believe for years). WA State is not the answer.
I agree that focusing strictly on economic issues is the GOP's ticket to possibly winning a bigger race in one of these states. Once social issues creeps into the campaign, it's over.
This, to an extent. We have a top-two primary, so that isn't quite it, but you're close.
The GOP candidates here are usually from the Seattle suburbs, but the "base" of the party is in the small towns east of the mountains and hellholes likes the Tri-Cities and Spokane Valley (next door to me), or in exurban Clark County (Portland area). Those voters are similar demographically and politically to Northern Idaho and have a deep-seated anger towards the Seattle area and demand their representatives display the same. That works when your state senator can run against King County and the Dem machine, not so much when a statewide candidate who needs those Westside votes and is usually from that area does.
