The primary election has concluded and as expected, several key races have set the stage for the November 5 general election. In particular, Western Washington, which encompasses around 39 of the state’s 49 legislative districts, saw a variety of competitive races due to its larger population compared to the central and eastern regions of the state.

In the 10th Legislative District, which includes Arlington, Mount Vernon, and stretches over to Whidbey and Camano Islands, the primary results indicate a tight contest. Republican Senator Ron Muzzall received 48.32% of the vote and will advance to the general election. Democrat Janet St. Clair, an Island County commissioner, came close with 44.99%. Muzzall has raised nearly $567,000 in campaign funds, while St. Clair has brought in just under $200,000.

In addition, the district’s two incumbent Democratic House Representatives, Clyde Shavers and Dave Paul, will also defend their seats. Shavers secured 52.55% of the vote against Republican Carrie Kennedy, who received 27.52%. Paul received 55.61% and will face Republican Gary Wray, who obtained 44.31%. Both incumbents have raised approximately $270,000 combined, whereas their challengers have raised less than $20,000 together.

In the 26th Legislative District in Kitsap County, the possibility of a party shift looms. Democrat Adison Richards, with 49.44% of the vote, will compete against former Republican Rep. Jesse Young, who obtained 35.2%. Young, who raised about $142,000, faces competition from Jim Henderson, who received 15.22% and had a contentious campaign with Young. Richards has raised approximately $157,000 for his campaign. For the district’s other seat, incumbent Republican Rep. Michelle Caldier received 34.87% and will face Democrat Tiffany Mitchell, who secured 29.86%. Caldier raised nearly $121,000, while Mitchell raised around $54,000.

Of course, these primary results are not final and will be certified by the state and counties on August 20. Read more on Center Square.

In the race to replace longtime state Rep. Frank Chopp in the 43rd legislative district, extreme leftist Shaun Scott and Democrat Andrea Suarez are poised to advance. Scott, a far-left activist, secured 55% of the initial vote – which bodes well for his prospects of winning in the General Election. Suarez, the executive director of We Heart Seattle, garnered 23.5%. Of course, the district, which includes much of downtown Seattle and Capitol Hill, is known for its far-left leanings, having previously supported politicians like self-proclaimed socialist Kshama Sawant.

Scott’s platform includes progressive policies like higher taxes and anti-police legislation – in other words, he aligns exactly with one would expect from the district. Suarez, on the other hand, is a bit more reasonable. She has criticized the 2020 defund-the-police movement, pointing to its results, including rising crime and other issues. The November election will reveal whether voters prefer Scott’s extreme, far-left agenda or a more moderate direction – but we aren’t holding our breath. Read more at the Seattle Times.

Incumbent Chris Reykdal currently leads the race for Washington’s Superintendent of Public Instruction with 39.6% of the vote. Conservative challenger David Olson garnered 31%. Given the other two candidates garnered 23.4% (Reid Saaris) and 5.6% (John Patterson Blair) of the vote, there’s quite a bit of room for Olson to maneuver a win in November. And, with Olson at the helm of the Superintendent’s office, parents may finally see an improvement from years of stagnant and failing public schools. Just a reminder of the important of voting!

A recent CBS article highlighted former U.S. Rep. and ex-sheriff Dave Reichert’s primary win in his race for governor. The article highlights Reichert for his role in capturing the notorious Green River Killer. Of course, given his history, Reichert’s candidacy signals a potential shift in the state’s political landscape. As CBS points out, Reichert’s storied career in law enforcement, including his two-decade pursuit of serial killer Gary Ridgway, means he brings a tough-on-crime reputation to the race, appealing to voters seeking a change in leadership.

Reichert, who has also authored a book on his experience titled “Chasing The Devil,” framed his primary success as a message from voters that they are ready for new direction in the state. As our state faces its first open governor’s race in over a decade, the contest between Reichert and Ferguson is set to be a defining moment – it’s a real opportunity to finally bring needed, rational leadership to our state. Read more at CBS.

The Marysville School District, serving approximately 9,700 students, is facing severe financial challenges due to a double levy failure that led to a $25 million funding loss. The state auditor recently conducted an independent review, revealing significant budget declines and raising concerns about the district’s financial future. State Auditor Pat McCarthy described this as the most alarming audit of a public school’s finances in 17 years, urging immediate action to prevent further deterioration. The audit highlighted a decline in the district’s general fund, with operating reserves dropping drastically since 2022. Contributing factors include declining enrollment and staff turnover.

For its part, the district says that it has made some budget cuts and is working with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to address the financial crisis. The district also criticized the audit report for omitting critical context, such as the impact of the $25 million funding loss and challenges faced by other districts. The district also expressed concern that the negative portrayal could harm its efforts to regain community trust and stabilize its finances – of course, if a little more concern was shown to internal management and less for public perceptions, the district wouldn’t be facing this issue in the first place. Read more at King 5.

Have you subscribed to the new Shift WA podcast yet? We’ve already released three full episodes, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive:

• David Olson talks about his bid for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, including the role of OSPI, implications of I-2081, and his approaches to learning loss and school tech policies. He also addresses rising anti-Semitism in schools and the need for more apprenticeships.
• Jacquelin Maycumber outlines her campaign for the 5th congressional district, her reasons for running, and her views on Congress’s role. She covers national debt, entitlement reform, the border crisis, and offers insights on the Jones Act.

Subscribe now and don’t miss out on these critical discussions!

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