After about half the votes being counted, the statewide primary election totals for many Republican candidates have been disappointing.  Yet many strategists see some positive numbers in the early returns.  Among the observations we’re hearing at Shift:

• Secretary of State Kim Wyman took a majority of the vote, as she holds off yet another attempt by the Democrats to make the office, which oversees state elections, a sub-division of the Washington State Democrat Party.
• Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier fared really well in a ballot test contest against former state legislator Larry Seaquist, earning more than 55% of the vote.
• Democrats are very nervous about the very weak showing of controversial incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal (currently at just 40%). Reykdal will be challenged by the strong campaign being waged by Maia Espinoza.  With the repeal of Reykdal’s divisive sex education bill on the ballot (Parent’s for Safe Schools’ Referendum 90), this will be a remarkably interesting race to watch this fall. You have to wonder how much money the teachers’ unions will spend to elect such a mediocre white male over an accomplished Hispanic female.
• Incumbent Republican State Treasurer Duane Davidson, who faced a fellow Republican in 2016 general election to win the office, will be the underdog after finishing behind liberal challenger State Representative Mike Pellicciotti. Hopefully by November voters will be asking themselves, “Could there be a more urgent time in our state’s history to have a fiscally conservative individual in charge of our state’s money?”
• It appears Governor Jay Inslee will be polishing up his resume for a position in a possible Biden Administration while being challenged by Republic Police Chief Loren Culp.
• In between his many lawsuits against the Trump Administration, Attorney General Bob Ferguson will be challenged by former Bush White House aide Matt Larkin.
• While postponing her campaign for governor, incumbent Commissioner for Public Lands Hilary Franz will be challenged by Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson.
• Jaime Herrera Beutler currently has a 13.5% lead over repeat challenger Carolyn Long in the 3^rd Congressional District, debunking Democrat predictions that this will be a close race in November.
• Democrats in the 5^th Congressional District avoided the embarrassment of advancing to the general a candidate who had withdrawn from the race against Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Dave Wilson obtained a spot on the November ballot by beating fellow Democrat Chris Armitage (who dropped out of the race 10 days ago) .
• It will be interesting to watch the issues being focused on by two extremely liberal candidates (former Tacoma Mayor Marylin Strickland and State Representative Beth Doglio) in the 10^th Congressional District. Since the victor will be decided by more conservative voters, how far to the center will the candidates be willing to go to attract voters?

The Seattle Police Guild has released a second TV ad in its StopDefunding campaign.  The 30-second spot goes after the extreme aims of the Seattle City Councilmembers who want to reduce Seattle police funding by 50%.   The campaign has collected, in just over a week, more than 150,000 online signatures from residents who oppose the radical legislation that will be voted on by the council next Monday (August 10^th).  You can sign the petition by clicking this link. The Guild has set a goal of collecting 250,000 signatures prior to the council vote. (Seattle Police Guild YouTube and StopDefunding petition site)

A Facebook post from Puyallup Police Chief Scott Engle has received considerable attention in social media this week.  The post features a picture of a home where a Puyallup police officer lives, with the words “Pig Lives Here” scribbled in chalk on the road in front of his house.  Engle then described the pressure that is currently being felt by officers and their families as they are concerned about their own personal safety. The chief went on to describe the important role many of these officers play in our society, both in uniform and being active in the community. Democrat elected officials who are counting on the vote of anti-police protestors continued to remain silent. (Puyallup Police Department Facebook post)

Bothell Police Officer Jonathan Schoop was memorialized yesterday at a small, invite-only ceremony that was viewed by thousands via Facebook.  Schoop  was killed in a gun battle after he was attacked while sitting his patrol car by a suspect in late July. His service to the community was the focus of eulogies by his brothers, words which could perhaps be shared with the members of the Seattle City Council who want to gut the city’s police department in support of a radical political agenda.(Facebook Live)

A fond farewell to legendary radio host, event promoter, and hydroplane enthusiast Pat O’Day.  The former KJR-AM deejay and program manager (back when it was the premier regional Top 40’s station) died at his San Juan Island home on Tuesday. He will be missed by all who can still hum the jingle, “KJR, Seattle, Channel 95.” RIP Pat, and may you always head into the first turn in the lead. (MyNorthwest)

The Washington State Auditor’s office issued a critical report on the bookkeeping practices of the Pullman-Moscow Airport.  The report claims the airport often misreported figures by millions of dollars and failed to record a short-term loan on its books. This has been the first review in 10 years of the airport’s financial records by the auditor’s office. (AP)

Because parents are fed up with Washington State’s traditional schools failing to educate students during the coronavirus pandemic, enrollment is surging in online schools. For many decades, it’s been an unspoken truth in the state capital that the state’s K-through-12 public school system is controlled by the union bosses at the Washington Education Association. Thus, the union’s opposition to innovation has caused our schools to be woefully unprepared to meet the needs of “distance learning.”  Many Washington State students received extraordinarily little actual instruction during the last three months of the school year.  Yet, students enrolled in one of the state’s 48 multi-district online schools continued with their education as usual last spring.  Parents (many of whom are now working from home) have decided to become more involved with their children’s education and are looking favorably to online education. (Shift)

Currently 10^th Congressional District candidate (and former state representative) Kristine Reeves is 1,200 votes behind state Representative Beth Doglio for the final spot on the general election ballot, but that does not stop her from still trying to raise money.  Before she likely falls further behind when the next batch of ballots are counted this afternoon, Reeves’ campaign staff blasted out a fundraising email this morning asking for money “to ensure that the voice of every WA-10 voter is heard and every ballot is counted.” With approximately 50% of the ballots still to be counted, there is an outside chance Reeves could overtake Doglio.  By sending out this fundraising email, Reeves’ staff is trying to make sure they get paid, even as they continuously click the refresh button on county election results web pages. (Reeves’ Campaign email)

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