Election Center
Related Coverage, Page 11
Brian Dansel, not Jonathan Bingle, ranked highest by Spokane County GOP after error found by party
The Spokane County Republican Party has issued a correction: Ferry County Commissioner Brian Dansel, not Spokane City Councilman Jonathan Bingle, received the party’s highest score for a candidate running to represent Eastern Washington in Congress.
Jonathan Bingle tops Spokane GOP’s scoring in race for Congress
A week before the state Republican Party considers endorsing a candidate for Congress in Eastern Washington, Spokane County GOP has ranked the nine Republican choices.
Biden easily wins Washington’s primary despite ‘uncommitted’ push
The campaign to vote “uncommitted” in the Democratic presidential primary picked up statewide and national momentum in the new year as the death toll in Gaza continued to climb and surpassed 30,000 people late last month, with thousands more missing, the associated press reported.
Donald Trump secures Republican presidential nomination with Washington delegates
Former President Donald Trump clinched the Republican presidential nomination Tuesday, and it was Washington state that gave him the last delegates to do so.
Secession, fluoride and hand-counted ballots: Spokane County GOP adopts first changes to platform in decade
The Spokane County Republican Party on March 2 adopted the first changes in a decade to its platform, clarifying the shifting priorities of a local party whose members increasingly believe that elections are not secure and that splitting off from Washington state may be necessary.
Republicans vying for McMorris Rodgers’ seat make early pitches to their base
Republicans hoping to win a coveted seat representing Eastern Washington in Congress have begun making early pitches to their base, trying to distinguish themselves through the force of their personalities, their records in office or their claim to be political outsiders, and in some cases their support for former President Donald Trump.
School districts in Spokane County are asking voters why their bonds failed, advice on next steps
Five school districts in Spokane County that suffered rejected tax proposals last month are regrouping and may be back to voters with smaller plans later this year.
Natasha Hill, Ben Stuckart running for state House seat being vacated by Riccelli amid shakeup
Amid a major shakeup of Spokane’s legislative delegation Monday, former Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart and Spokane attorney Natasha Hill announced runs for a seat in the state House being vacated by Rep. Marcus Riccelli.
Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig says he won’t run for re-election
In the last week of the 2024 legislative session, the announcement that one of the Spokane delegation’s most influential lawmakers will not run for re-election left in question how much influence Eastern Washington will have in the state’s capitol moving forward.
Medical Lake Mayor Terri Cooper announces bid for Congress
Medical Lake Mayor Terri Cooper is running to represent Eastern Washington in Congress, she announced Saturday at the Spokane County Republican Convention.
Initiative that would give Washington cops more legal leeway in vehicular pursuits draws public debate
Last year, more than 400,000 Washingtonians signed a ballot measure that would overturn the state law preventing an officer from embarking on a car chase unless they have “reasonable suspicion” a person has committed certain crimes, such as a violent offense or driving while drunk or high on drugs. Supporters of Initiative 2113 argue the current law on the books prevents police from doing their jobs to catch suspected criminals and keep communities safe. Those opposed to the initiative argue police chases are dangerous for everyone involved and that criminals aren’t deterred by them.
Washington lawmakers consider Initiative 2081, a proposal strengthening parental rights in schools – though some say it wouldn’t change much
While many of the parental rights outlined in this year’s initiative are already established under state law, legislators held public hearing to understand more about the measure and hear from both supporters and opponents. If lawmakers don’t act on the measure, it heads for the November ballot.
Michael Baumgartner joins crowded race to represent Eastern Washington in Congress
Spokane County Treasurer Michael Baumgartner has formally joined the race for Washington’s 5th congressional district, announcing his candidacy at a campaign launch event at the University District Gateway Bridge overlooking the Washington State University Spokane Medical School.
Primer on the primary: Presidential primary ballots went out this week. Here’s how they’re unique in Washington state
The state has mailed combined Republican and Democratic primary ballots to 4.8 million registered voters in all of Washington’s 39 counties. Voters have until March 12 to cast their ballots and weigh in on their chosen party’s nominee for president. Voters must declare a party and select only one candidate, or else their votes won’t be counted.
Spokane Councilman Jonathan Bingle and former Matt Shea aide Rene Holaday running for Congress
Voters have two more choices to consider for a seat in Congress being vacated by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers.
Democrats see best chance to flip Eastern Washington’s Congressional seat in decades
It’s been nearly 30 years since Democrats last represented Eastern Washington in Congress. Now with incumbent Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers not running for re-election, some in the party see a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
Spokane Schools grateful for levy passage, but regrouping after bond fails
As the dust settles after Spokane Public Schools’ first failed bond since 1967, the district will seek community input on a potential future tax ask for aging facilities that staff say need updating.
After levies pass, but bonds fail, districts like Spokane consider next steps
Editors note: The headline appearing with this story in Thursday’s print edition contained an error. The headline should have stated “Spokane schools bond fails. What’s next?”
Voters overwhelmingly support Fairfield joining Spokane County Fire District 2
Fairfield residents in southeastern Spokane County will now have more say over their firefighting services.
Rural school districts overwhelmingly passed their levies in Tuesday’s election, even as Spokane’s bond failed
While support for school bonds and levies has declined in the Spokane area, levies are overwhelmingly passing in rural, more conservative districts surrounding Spokane County in initial counting for Tuesday’s special election.