Washington state’s election filing period is over, which means the names you’re going to see in the August primary ballot are set.
And this year, there are several names locals will want to pay attention to.
First is Rep. Eric Robertson – though in this case, the news is that his name won’t be on the ballot; he announced his decision not to run in a May 6 press release.
“Thank you to the people of our communities, and my friends and colleagues, for eight years of serving my home town in Olympia,” he said in a prepared statement. “It truly is an honor and privilege to represent the 31st District in the State House, though it’s time for me to leave the legislature and spend more time attending my grandkids sporting events, helping my dad as he gets older, and traveling.”
Robertson is endorsing Orting Mayor Josh Penner for the position; “I believe he will serve the district well, and bring a unique set of skills and perspectives to the legislature,” he continued.
Penner said he’s running because, as Mayor, he’s been able to help make Orting a safer, more affordable place to live, and that success could translate to making the same changes for the state.
“… Policy coming from our legislature has demonstrably made our communities less safe, made housing more unaffordable, and widely reduced opportunities for our families,” he said in an email interview. “In Orting, we’ve bucked those trends. I believe I can do the same in Olympia.”
Penner does not intend to continue to be mayor if he wins the race.
Second, Sen. Phil Fortunato (R-Auburn) is no longer running for Secretary of State, which was announced earlier this year.
Instead, he’s chosen to run to be the state’s Insurance Commissioner, arguing that under incumbent Mike Kreidler’s Democratic administration, “insurance rates have skyrocketed as have the complex and costly regulations resulting in less choice for consumers,” Fortunato said in a press release.
A RED/BLUE SWITCH-UP?
Local voters should know that District 31 and District 5 have changed, which could result in the reliably-conservative Enumclaw being represented by Democrats in the state legislature in the near future.
The local districts’ territory were altered on March 15, a federal Western District of Washington judge put in place a new legislative map that was focused on the 14th and 15th districts, but also affected Enumclaw and the surrounding area.
State Republicans have petitioned the Supreme Court of the United States for an injunction against the new map, and perhaps a ruling against it, but at this time, the case has not been taken up.
The new map shows Enumclaw is no longer is District 31, but District 5, a Democrat stronghold; Buckley remains in District 31 and the political red.
Even though Enumclaw will add conservative votes to District 5, the Democratic voting average in the area will is expected to only shrink from 57% to 55%, according to Cascadia Advocate, a publication of the Northwest Progressive Institute. This means it’s unlikely Enumclaw and the surrounding area will do much to turn the district a shade of purple, thanks to larger, more liberal cities like Maple Valley and Issaquah.
WHO ELSE HAS FILED?
State
It appears that the District 5 primary will be a crowded field, and there will be many names to choose from.
Locally, Black Diamond Councilmember Kristiana de Leon has filed for District 5, Position 1 as a Democrat, as well as city resident Mark Hargrove as a Republican.
But they’ll be up against three more non-Plateau opponents: Jason Ritchie, and Victoria Hunt — both Democrats — and Landon Halverson, another Republican. Waylon Menzia, a Democrat, also filed, but recently withdrew.
Position 2 looks like a calmer race between Democrat incumbent Lisa Callan and Republican challenger Patrick Peacock, and the District 5 race for the senator seat will be between Democrat incumbent Bill Ramos and Republican Chad Magendanz.
Over in district 31 Republican Rep. Drew Stokesbary is returning to the ballot for District 31; challenging him will be Wilkeson resident Sara Sutterfield, running as a Democrat.
And of course, Mayor Penner filed for Robertson’s Position No. 2 as a Republican, along with Republican Brandon Beynon and Democrats Bill Thomas and Brian Gunn.
City
There are no local elections this time around, as these races all happen in odd-years.
While King County voters passed a measure in 2022 requiring some county races to happen in even-years, this does not affect city elections.
The Washington State Legislature brought forth a bill this last session that would give cities and school district the option to move their election to even years, but it did not make it to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk.
