Washington primary is Aug. 6

Washington’s constituents will soon choose who they’d like to see advance to the general election during August’s primaries.

While some southeastern Washington elected officials attracted no challengers, several federal and state races garnered numerous candidates who filed for office. For instance, the governor’s position amassed more than two dozen competitors.

Washington will begin to mail ballots out Friday for the primary election taking place Aug. 6. The two contestants with the most votes in each race will move on to the general election Nov. 5.

In Asotin County, incumbent four-year term Commissioner Brian Shinn will face Dennis Lenz for the District 1 position. District 2 Commissioner Chris Seubert was essentially reelected after not being challenged.

Two Garfield County Commission seats are on the ballot but the incumbents are running unopposed for four-year terms. Jim Nelson is again seeking his District 1 spot while Larry Ledgerwood is on the ballot for his District 2 position.

It’s the same for two Whitman County commissioners: Art Swannack is running for the District 1 seat and Tom Handy for the District 2 spot.

The Whitman County Superior Court judge position will be opening up with Gary Libey retiring at the end of the year. Roger Sandberg, Steve Martonick and Jenna Brozik will be running for the seat.

A few Whitman town levies will also be on the ballot.

Farmington is asking for $18,000 to fund street maintenance, repairs and improvements. Homeowners would pay $288 in 2024 per $100,000 in assessed home value.

It also proposed a levy of $10,000 to finance the town’s expense fund. Property owners would pay $160 in 2024 per $100,000 in assessed home value.

Garfield is asking for $72,000 for street maintenance. Homeowners would pay $250 in 2024 per $100,000 in assessed home value.

Whitman County Fire Protection District 7 is proposing a levy to continue funding emergency medical services for its citizens. Property owners would pay $50 for a six year period beginning in 2025 per $100,000 in assessed home value.

In state races, Reps. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, and Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, are being challenged. Dye will face Patrick Miller, and Schmick will face Arianna Arends and Pam Kohlmeier.

Many federal- and state-level seats opened up as Gov. Jay Inslee, U.S. House 5th Congressional District Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Attorney General Bob Ferguson did not file for reelection. Ferguson instead will be running for governor.

Incumbent Sen. Maria Cantwell drew challenges from 10 others, spanning across different party affiliations, for the position she’s held since 2001.

The list of candidates who filed for office in southeastern Washington, with their stated party preference, include:

Federal

U.S. Senate (six-year term)

Democrat: Maria Cantwell (incumbent), Paul Lawrence Giesick

Republican: Mel Ram, Scott Nazarino, Isaac Holyk, Raul Garcia, Goodspaceguy

Independent: Chuck Jackson, Thor Amundson

Socialist Workers: Henry Clay Dennison

No party preference: David Tilton

U.S. House, 5th Congressional District (two-year term)

Democrat: Carmela Conroy, Matthew Welde, Bernadine Bank, Ann Marie Danimus, Bobbi Bennett-Wolcott

Republican: Michael Baumgartner, Rene’ Holaday, Jacquelin Maycumber, Rick Valentine Flynn, Brian Dansel, Jonathan Bingle

State

Governor (four-year term)

Democrat: Mark Mullet, Bob Ferguson, Edward Cale IV, EL’ona Kearney, Don Rivers, Fred Grant, Cassondra Magdalene Hanson, Chaytan Inman, Ricky Anthony

Republican: Martin Lee Wheeler, Jim Daniel, Bill Hirt, Dave Reichert, Jennifer Hoover, Semi Bird, A.L. Brown

Trump Republican: Leon Lawson

Libertarian: Michael DePaula

Independent: Frank Dare, William Combs, Jeff Curry, Rosetta Marshall-Williams

Green: Andre Stackhouse

Standup-America: Alex Tsimerman

Nonsense Busters: Alan Makayev

Nonpartisan: Brian Bogen

No party preference: Brad Mjelde, Jim Clark

Lt. Governor (four-year term)

Democrat: Denny Heck (incumbent), Dave Griffin

Republican: Bob Hagglund, Dan Matthews

Liberal Republican: Patrick Harman

Secretary of State (four-year term)

Democrat: Steve Hobbs (incumbent), Marquez Tiggs

Republican: Dale Whitaker

No party preference: Damon Townsend

State Treasurer (four-year term)

Democrat: Mike Pellicciotti (incumbent)

Republican: Sharon Hanek

State Auditor (four-year term)

Democrat: Patrice McCarthy

Republican: Matt Hawkins

Attorney General (four-year term)

Democrat: Nick Brown, Manka Dhingra

Republican: Pete Serrano

Washington Legislature — 9th Legislative District

State Senator (four-year term)

Republican: Mark Schoesler (incumbent)

House Position 1 (two-year term)

Republican: Mary Dye (incumbent)

Democrat: Patrick Miller

House Position 2 (two-year term)

Republican: Joe Schmick (incumbent)

Democrat: Arianna Arends, Pam Kohlmeier

Asotin County

(All with four-year terms, unless otherwise noted)

County Commissioner 1

No party preference: Brian Shinn (incumbent), Dennis Lenz

County Commissioner 2

Republican: Chris Seubert (incumbent)

Garfield County

County Commissioner 1

Jim Nelson (incumbent)

County Commissioner 2

Larry Ledgerwood (incumbent)

Whitman County

County Commissioner 1

Republican: Art Swannack (incumbent)

County Commissioner 2

Independent: Tom Handy (incumbent)

Superior Court Judge

Roger Sandberg, Steve Martonick, Jenna Brozik

In addition to the listed positions above, all Republican and Democratic precinct committee seats are up for election this year, as are Position 2 on the Washington Supreme Court, commissioner of public lands, superintendent of public instruction and the state’s insurance commissioner.

Pearce can be reached at epearce@dnews.com.