After years of higher taxes, bigger budgets, and more government, Washington voters finally get a chance to decide whether Democrats deserve another term—or a timeout.
Primary Day: Time to Grade Olympia’s Report Card
Today’s primary will shape the races that matter most this November, from Congress to the Legislature to the Washington Supreme Court. The biggest spotlight is on the 3rd Congressional District, where Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez faces her toughest test yet against state Sen. John Braun as Republicans look to flip a seat in a district that backed President Donald Trump.
Beyond Congress, voters will decide whether Democrats deserve to keep their commanding majorities in Olympia after years of expanding state spending, approving new taxes, and making Washington one of the nation’s least affordable places to live. Three Washington Supreme Court races also carry major implications, as the court could ultimately decide the fate of Democrats’ controversial new 9.9% income tax on high earners.
The primary won’t decide every race, but it will offer the first real indication of whether Washington voters are ready to push back against one-party rule—or give Democrats another chance to convince them that the solution to every problem is still more spending, more taxes, and more government. Read more at Shift WA.
Marie Drops the Moderate Mask
In other election news, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez has quietly removed the Republican endorsements from her campaign website, replacing them with a new banner proclaiming she’s backed by “Washington’s Working Families.” Missing are the GOP and bipartisan endorsements she prominently touted during her first two campaigns.
In their place are endorsements from Democrat organizations, labor unions, and progressive activist groups, including EMILY’s List, Fuse Washington, and End Citizens United. Perez also removed the Blue Dog Coalition from her featured endorsements despite serving as the group’s co-chair, a move critics say further undermines the moderate image she has carefully cultivated.
The website makeover comes after Perez declined to criticize the growing socialist wing of the Democratic Party during a recent interview, fueling accusations that she’s abandoning the bipartisan brand that helped her win in Southwest Washington. With WA-03 now rated a toss-up, critics argue the changes confirm what her voting record has long suggested: the moderate persona was always more campaign strategy than political reality. Read more at Seattle Red.
Ferguson Keeps Families Waiting on Free Education Money
State Rep. Travis Couture is blasting Gov. Bob Ferguson for refusing to enroll Washington in a new federal education tax credit created under President Donald Trump‘s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The program would allow taxpayers to receive up to $1,700 in tax credits for donations that fund scholarships covering tuition, tutoring, books, technology, and other education expenses—all without costing the state budget.
Couture argues Ferguson is denying families access to potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in private scholarship funding while simultaneously signing education budget cuts, including a reduction to the Transition to Kindergarten program. Ferguson has defended his delay by saying he’s waiting for federal guidance and has expressed skepticism toward what he describes as a voucher program that could undermine public schools.
But the scholarships are funded through private donations—not state tax dollars—and note that roughly 30 states, including several led by Democrats, have already opted in. With Washington’s January deadline approaching, Ferguson is once again letting ideology stand in the way of giving families more educational options. Read more at Seattle Red.
Spokane’s Fire Tragedy Leaves Hundreds of Families With Nothing
Authorities have arrested 37-year-old Aaron Farinacci on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire, one of three devastating wildfires that have ravaged Spokane County since Saturday.
The scale of the tragedy is heartbreaking. Nearly 700 homes and other structures have been destroyed, roughly 67,000 people have been forced to evacuate, and entire neighborhoods have been reduced to ashes. Washington National Guard Adjutant General Gent Welsh described the destruction as resembling “a war zone,” warning that some families may never fully recover.
Investigators say deputies initially detained Farinacci near where the fire started after a witness reported suspicious behavior but released him as emergency crews focused on evacuating residents. Authorities later arrested him after additional evidence emerged during the investigation. The causes of the other two fires remain under investigation.
As nearly 1,000 firefighters continue battling the blazes and state and federal officials work to bring relief to those affected, our prayers are with the families who have lost their homes, their possessions, and their sense of security. May they find strength, comfort, and the support they need to begin the long road to recovery. Read more at Center Square.
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