Rep. Deutch loses yearly spelling bee

U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch was the last politician standing in this year’s politicians vs. press spelling bee in Washington, D.C.

He ended up losing, however, missing the word “flittern.” (That’s a young oak, according to merriam-webster.com.)

Though a Washington Post reporter ultimately won, Deutch had a better night than his three congressional colleagues on the politicians’ team. U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon, Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Mark Takano of California, all Democrats, were out in earlier rounds.

Deutch, who represents most of Broward north of Interstate 595 and southwest Palm Beach County, easily rattled off a word that’s known to many in South Florida: “Ponzi,” as in the scheme.

And the lawyer who is a member of the House Judiciary Committee correctly spelled “interrogate,” at the event, which was held on Thursday evening, after many people spent much of the day watching the Senate Judiciary Committee interrogating witnesses in the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation hearing.

The evening’s winner was Alexandra Petri of The Washington Post. The newspaper Roll Call reported she had back-to-back spellings of “unicameral” (having a single legislative chamber) and “gallica” (a compact fragrant European rose).

Deutch is being challenged by Republican Nicolas Kimaz in the Nov. 6 election. Independent analysts don’t see Deutch, who is serving his fifth term, as vulnerable.