Twelve candidates crowd 4th Congressional District slate

An even dozen candidates are running for an open seat in Central Washington’s 4th Congressional District, making it the most crowded race in the state’s Aug. 5 primary.

The district trends heavily Republican, and so did the candidate filings. Eight are Republicans, with two Democrats and two independents. Under the state’s primary system, the top two vote-getters advance to the general election, regardless of party.

Here’s the order they’ll appear on the ballot after a drawing by the secretary of state’s office:

Republican Gavin Seim, a videographer from Ephrata; Democrat Estakio Beltran, a former congressional aide from Richland; Republican Dan Newhouse, former legislator and state agriculture director from Yakima; Republican Clint Didier of Eltopia, a former NFL player who has run for U.S. Senate and state lands commissioner; Independent Josh Ramirez of Pasco, who works for Washington River Protection Solutions; Republican Gordon Allen Pross, a perennial candidate from Ellensburg; Tony Sandoval, a Yakima businessman; Kevin Midbust, a Rite Aid supervisor from Richland; Republican Glen Stockwell, an economic development advocate and perennial candidate from Ritzville; Republican George Cicotte, a Kennewick attorney; Republican Janea Holmquist, a sitting state senator from Moses Lake; and Independent Richard Wright of Kennewick, who ran for the seat as a Democrat in 2006.