Washington state Dem to back fast-track

Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) on Monday became the 19th House Democrat to say she would back fast-track trade authority for President Obama, according to The Hill’s Whip list.

DelBene’s state is one of the nation’s largest exporters, and she is the third Washington state Democrat to back fast-track. Her office told The Hill she plans to vote in favor of fast-track.

{mosads}Both of Washington state’s senators backed Obama’s call for fast-track in a Senate vote last month.

Fast-track would allow Obama to send the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal to Congress for an up-or-down vote.

The White House and GOP leaders in the House have been aggressively courting lawmakers, and a vote could be held on Thursday.

Obama could need as many as two dozen House Democrats.

Republicans hold 245 seats in the lower chamber and they need 217 or 218 — pending a replacement for Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) — to pass the trade legislation.