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Candidate filing week in Washington kicked off Monday. Here are some prominent contenders in this year’s statewide races
Monday marked the beginning of candidate filing week in the state, opening the doors for Washingtonians to officially throw their hats in the ring for more than 400 federal, state, judicial, legislative and county offices up for grabs in the November election.
Tiffany Smiley, who lost bid for U.S. Senate in 2022, enters race challenging Rep. Dan Newhouse
Tiffany Smiley, the political newcomer who lost a 2022 bid to unseat incumbent Sen. Patty Murray, is challenging incumbent Congressman Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Sunnyside, she announced Monday.
Major tax increase proposal headed to Spokane voters in August ballot to fill budget hole and invest in public safety
Voters will be asked in August to raise property taxes in the City of Spokane to stave off a looming budget deficit and public safety.
Candidates hoping to replace McMorris Rodgers in Congress have raised $1 million. Here’s who’s got the most.
The race to represent Eastern Washington in Congress is heating up, as evidenced by the $1 million raised by a dozen candidates – most of it in the first three months of the year.
Freeman School District levy fails again
For the second time this year, Freeman voters failed to support the school district’s $5 million capital levy.
Washington state Republican Party endorses 6 candidates as races for statewide offices heat up
The candidates who managed to clinch a party endorsement are not guaranteed a spot on the general election ballot come November. However, an endorsement earns them free publicity and fundraising help from the party in the coming months.
Washington candidate for governor Bob Ferguson holds fundraising event in downtown Spokane
Ferguson spoke at a luncheon in the Spokane Convention Center to a room full of roughly 170 local politicians and community members, asking them to donate to his campaign. Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown and City Councilmember Zack Zappone spoke at the fundraising event before Ferguson stepped up to the podium.
Second times the charm? Freeman School District seeks capital levy again after failure in February
Rockford voters may think they’re experiencing a case of deja vu when filling out their ballots for the special election April 23.
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.