The following summarizes key outcomes and/or trends from primary election results after two days of ballot counting. Under Washington’s vote by mail system, voters received ballots three weeks in advance of the primary date and can return those ballots during that period. In many counties, ballots returned early are processed and counted, providing election night tallies.

However, nearly half of the ballots cast remain to be counted after election day. These include ballots returned late in the process and/or returned on election day. Counties have three weeks to complete the counts and certify election results.

The outcomes and trends outlined below are based on results reported on August 2nd and August 3rd.

Senate:

• Democrat Incumbent Patty Murray received 54% of the vote against a field of 17 challengers. Republican newcomer, Tiffany Smiley, led all challengers with 32% of the vote. Although Murray has an obvious edge in the race, the Smiley campaign was very effective in introducing the candidate to Washington voters.

Congressional:

• Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-4th) and Congresswoman Jamie Herrera-Beutler (R-3rd) appear to have survived primary challenges from challengers backed by former President Donald Trump. Newhouse and Herrera-Beutler both voted in favor of impeaching then President Trump and have been targeted by local and national groups.
• Congresswoman Kim Schrier (D-8th), who represents the swing 8th District that spans east and west of Cascades, including Wenatchee, has tallied 48% of the primary vote to date. Although newcomer Matt Larkin holds a slim lead among three Republican challengers, it is still too close to call who will challenge Schrier in the General Election.
• Incumbents Susan Del Bene (D-1), Rick Larsen (D-2), Cathy McMorris-Rogers (R-5), Derek Kilmer (D-6), Pramila Jayapal (D-7), Adam Smith (D-9) and Marilyn Strickland (D-10) all polled strongly in their districts and appear poised to be re-elected in November.

Washington Legislature:

Many predicted strong outcomes for Republican candidates because of rising inflation, escalating gas prices, and the growth in spending adopted by the Legislature over the past four years. However, based on two days of ballot counts, the anticipated “Red Wave” is not materializing. Among the bell weather races:

House - Democrats are showing a potential gain in the 10th (Whidbey and Camano Islands) and the swing 26th District (Gig Harbor-Bremerton). Republicans are showing a potential gain in the 42nd District (Whatcom County) and holding all their seats across Central and Eastern Washington and along the SW Washington Coast.

Senate - Republicans may be poised to gain one or two open seats, but Democratic incumbents appear to be successfully defending their seats. For example, Republicans targeted regaining the seat lost in 2018 in the 26th District (Gig Harbor-Bremerton). However, early results show Incumbent Democrat Emily Randall leading two Republican challengers with 53% of the vote. Republicans appear to have an opportunity in the open seat in the 47th District (Kent-Auburn).

Due to resignations, about 30% of the Legislature will be new members. Based on the primary votes counted to date, it appears both the House and Senate will remain under Democrat control, with just a handful of seats changing party.

However, it is a very long time until November!

12th District Delegation:

The 12th legislative district dramatically changed in redistricting and now spans over the Cascades to rural eastern King and Snohomish Counties. Rep. Mike Steele drew a challenger from the west-side; early returns show Steele winning handily with 80% of the vote. Rep. Keith Goehner does not have an opponent.

7th and 13th District Delegations:

Redistricting also resulted in the 7th and 13th Districts intersecting with the Wenatchee Valley in some areas.

7th District – Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber (Rep) is leading with 70% of the vote over her Republican challenger. Senator Shelly Short and Rep. Joel Kretz, both Republicans, are not being challenged in their bid for re-election.

13th District – Senator Judy Warnick, Rep. Tom Dent and Rep. Alex Ybarra are all running unopposed.