Seattle Stunner

"A Republican resurgence," exulted G.O.P. National Chairman Bill Brock. That was putting it too strongly, but Republicans around the country did have something to cheer about. In a special congressional by-election in Washington's Seattle area last week, State Senator Jack Cunningham, 46, stunned Democrat Marvin Burning, 47, by winning a handy 54.2% of the vote. That means the G.O.P. has won two out of three congressional races this, year; earlier, Republican Arlan Stangeland won in Minnesota, though Democrat Wyche Fowler prevailed in Georgia.

A lanky 6-ft. 4-in. plastics manufacturer, Cunningham scored his upset in a traditionally liberal Democratic district that had been represented for twelve years by Brock Adams, Carter's Secretary of Transportation. Among its 243,000 voters are heavy concentrations of minorities and blue collar workers. Though a staunch conservative, Cunningham made unemployment his top issue. He labeled his opponent an "environmental extremist" whose no-growth policies would cost the state jobs. He argued that, by proposing to cut defense spending, Durning would eliminate still more employment.

Cunningham had obviously found the right issue, and the G.O.P., still outgunned 290 to 145 in the House, had found a winner. Just over 24 hours after his victory, Cunningham was whisked off to Washington, D.C., to be the star at a Republican Party fund raiser.

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