Republican Dino Rossi campaigns for 8th District Congress

AUBURN, Wash. — Republican Dino Rossi is the best-known candidate of either party running in the 8th Congressional District.

But he says he's campaigning hard every day to win in August and November.

Scroll down to continue reading

More news from KIRO 7

• WATCH: Seattle police release full lip sync video after accepting challenge
• Ex-con accused of slashing teen's throat on BART platform was freed 75 days before killing
• Victim's family blames DOC for convicted killer's 'murderous rampage'
• Grassroots effort to save Showbox Theater grows, seeks landmark status
• Kidnapped baby burned, dies from injuries, police searching for suspects

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE NEWS APP

​
Rossi toured Pacific Wire Group in Auburn today 

"Pretty much anything you can imagine made out of wire we do," said owner Robin Crist.

The company makes steel wire products for buyers in this country and abroad.

Rossi accepted the endorsement of the National Federation of Independent Businesses and introduced himself to employees.

"I grew up the youngest of seven kids in Mountlake Terrace. Dad was a school teacher and grew up drinking powdered milk and Hamburger Helper without the hamburger," he said.

Rossi grew up to serve in the state Senate, run for governor and U.S. senator and become a commercial real estate developer.

That experience shapes his goals in Congress.

"I want to make sure entrepreneurs have, really, the ability to go out and be successful," he said.

The raw steel used to make products at Pacific Wire comes from Canada. Now, the company must deal with President Trump's 25 percent tariff.

Asked what he thinks about the tariffs, Rossi responds, "I have been very clear that I don't think anybody wants a trade war."

That stand has already won him advertising support from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Rossi criticized the tariffs but was careful not to criticize fellow Republican President Trump.

"Honestly we have enough people yelling at people in politics already without adding another one. I was very successful in business and politics and life by not yelling at people," he said.

While his Democratic opponents call for universal health care, Rossi has a different approach. "For me what I'd like to see happen, I want to see more competition in the system. And I think what ends up happening when you have more competition in the system prices get lower and I think prices get better because consumers then get to make choices," he said.

The 8th District straddles both sides of the Cascades, and Rossi has run for local or statewide office seven times before.

"People in the 8th Congressional District know me. A big chunk of it is what I represented in the state Senate," he said.

Cox Media Group