Election Center
Current elections
Choose an election for the latest information on races and measures, headlines and voting results.
Johnson, Brandt advance in race for Spokane County District Court Judge
Patrick Johnson emerged as front-runner in the race for Spokane County District Court Judge, securing 39.5 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s primary election. Johnson was one of three challengers vying to become Spokane County’s new district court judge after Judge Vance Peterson announced his retirement at the end of the year.
Results point to real contest: Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Lisa Brown nearly tied in primary
The contest between the high-ranking congressional Republican and the Democrat with years of experience in state political leadership has drawn national interest and big local spending as the parties vie for support in the first midterm election since President Donald Trump took office.
Today’s primary: Seats up for grabs; results open to interpretation
The primary ballot is the gateway to the general election for candidates seeking federal, state and local offices, but the results are always open to interpretation. Ballots have to be postmarked today or deposited in drop boxes by 8 p.m.
Washington State Primary Election 2018
Results point to real contest: Lisa Brown, Cathy McMorris Rodgers nearly tied in primary
Cathy McMorris Rodgers seeks widespread GOP support in competitive race against Lisa Brown
The seven-term congresswoman reached out to state Rep. Matt Shea this year, a legislator seen as a mouthpiece for the libertarian, constitutionalist wing of the Republican Party. Lisa Brown, the presumptive Democratic challenger for McMorris Rodgers’ seat, says the spate of negative ads in the campaign are distracting from the real issues facing the district.
Spin Control: Got an excuse for not voting? We’ve got a response.
Answers to frequent excuses for not voting in the primary.
Initiatives on carbon fees, soda taxes qualify for ballot
Two more initiatives have enough signatures to go on the November ballot.
Downtown Spokane stadium plan gets backing from boosters, maybe a second chance from City Council
City Councilwoman Lori Kinnear is working against the clock to have her colleagues reconsider their vote against a bond measure that would ask taxpayers to cover the cost of building a downtown stadium. Boosters of Spokane’s downtown and its sports offerings panned the decision Tuesday as ignoring the voices of voters.
Protesters target GOP backlash to Russia probe at Devin Nunes fundraiser for Cathy McMorris Rodgers
More than 100 protestors are highlighting a fund-raising lunch benefiting the re-election campaign of U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers.
Spin Control: Ballot returns lag behind 2014 primaries
For all the talk about a blue wave of voters that might wash over the 2018 elections, it seems appropriate to mention that turnout in this year’s primary is lagging behind where it was in 2014, the last midterm.
6th District candidates make final push leading up to primaries
As primary election night approaches, Spokane County 6th District House candidate Dave Wilson has raised several thousand dollars more than his opponents. None of the candidates, Wilson included, thinks that guarantees a victory.
Cathy McMorris Rodgers pushes House bill targeting EPA pollution standards in Washington
The measure, which passed as part of a larger spending package approved by the House of Representatives, prohibits the federal agency from enforcing its new water quality standards in Washington state. That includes a level of carcinogenic chemicals that are imperceptible by current testing techniques, but environmental groups have argued against doing away with the EPA’s work on the issue.
Gun control initiative passes signature check, gets new legal challenge
Initiative 1639, a gun control measure, has enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot, but faces a new lawsuit.
Ad watch: Latest attack ads against Brown make questionable claims
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and the state Republican Party are stepping up attacks on Democratic challenger Lisa Brown with a mailer that suggests the former state legislator is soft on sexual predators and a newspaper ad that she claims credit where it’s not due.
Spokane City Council, school board will meet Wednesday to discuss downtown stadium, bond projects
A public hearing on planned November bond measures will be held Wednesday beginning at 7 p.m. at the Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. Elected officials are expected to finalize the language of an anticipated $600 million bond request to build new schools, libraries and potentially a downtown stadium.
Randy Brandt, Patrick Johnson, Lynden Smithson vie for open district court seat
Judge Vance Peterson’s planned retirement at the end of the year has drawn three challengers vying to become Spokane County’s newest district court judge. All three have lived in Spokane for decades, some born and raised. All three graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law and spent years working as attorneys. Where they diverge is the experience – particularly, whether they’ve already donned the black robes.
House Intel Chairman Nunes to raise money for McMorris Rodgers
U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes – one of President Donald Trump’s strongest supporters in Congress and a sometime lightning rod for criticism for the House investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election – will help Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers raise campaign money Monday in Spokane.
Spin Control: Is it true democracy if it takes millions to get an initiative on the ballot?
Some groups spend big to get signatures for ballot initiatives.
Ad watch: Cathy McMorris Rodgers spot revives attack on Lisa Brown regarding sex offenders
The Lisa Brown campaign accused U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of desperation and “scare tactics” in a new attack ad questioning the Democrat’s record in the state House of Representatives on housing sex offenders.
Questions of rule violations trail Spokane County District Court judge candidate signs
A candidate running for district court judge may be in violation of state judicial conduct rules by advertising possibly misleading information to voters.