Laurel Demkovich

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News >  WA Government

Democratic incumbent Hobbs leading in Secretary of State race, though race still too close to call

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 8, 2022

BELLEVUE – Democratic incumbent Steve Hobbs is leading in the race for secretary of state, although nonpartisan opponent Julie Anderson is not far behind.

News >  WA Government

Incumbent Sen. Patty Murray sails through to sixth term

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 9, 2022

The race quickly became one of the most expensive and closely watched in recent history. 

News >  WA Government

Turnout down statewide ahead of Election Day but late surge in returns could mean late results

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 8, 2022

Don't be fooled by Tuesday's initial results as they could only reflect a small number of ballots returned. 

News >  WA Government

Auditors have received an unprecedented amount of public records requests since the 2020 election, and it’s likely just the beginning

Sun., Nov. 6, 2022

Washington isn't alone. Nationwide, elections officials have been overwhelmed with public records requests regarding the 2020 election as a number of organizations and individuals are still looking for voter fraud. 

News >  WA Government

Tuesday’s election could bring a number of surprises. Here are some races to watch:

Sun., Nov. 6, 2022

Ballots must be returned to a drop box or postmarked by 8 p.m. that day. For more information on where to vote, visit VoteWA.gov or your local county elections office. County auditors have encouraged voters to get their ballots in earlier rather than later to allow for quicker processing and faster results.

News >  WA Government

U.S. Senate candidates Patty Murray and Tiffany Smiley meet for final time before election in Seattle town hall

UPDATED: Sun., Oct. 30, 2022

In their last appearance together, the candidates kept to most of their campaign talking points. 

News >  WA Government

We the People: Senate rules for filibuster up for debate. Here’s where Washington’s senators stand

Sun., Oct. 30, 2022

Each week, The Spokesman-Review examines one question from the Naturalization Test immigrants must pass to become United States citizens.

News >  Health

Washington health officials encourage vaccination as triple-whammy respiratory season approaches

Fri., Oct. 28, 2022

Unlike normal respiratory virus seasons, this year brings three viruses to watch out for: influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV, and COVID-19. 

News >  WA Government

Truth-test: U.S. Senate ads from both campaigns often miss important context. Here’s a look at the Murray-Smiley race

Fri., Oct. 28, 2022

With some polls showing a tightening race for Senate in Washington state, attack ads from both sides are filling mailboxes, computer screens and the airwaves.

News >  WA Government

Key insights, remaining questions after Sunday’s U.S. Senate debate between Smiley and Murray

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 25, 2022

Between questions on inflation, climate change, the Snake River Dams and Hanford, the candidates hoping to represent Washington in the U.S. Senate next year gave some answers while dodging a number of others. 

News >  WA Government

Murray, Smiley race for U.S. Senate narrows as candidates head into debate in Spokane on Sunday

Sun., Oct. 23, 2022

The two will face off in a debate hosted by the Spokesman-Review and the League of Women Voters in partnership with the Washington State Debate Coalition. Tickets for the debate are sold out, but it will air on KSPS, as well as a number of other media outlets, at 5 p.m. on Sunday from the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center at Gonzaga University. 

News >  WA Government

Washington secretary of state race close as ever as candidates head into Sunday debate

Sun., Oct. 23, 2022

The two candidates will face off Sunday in a debate hosted by the Spokesman-Review and the League of Women Voters. Both candidates will debate at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center at Gonzaga University. 

News >  WA Government

Inslee, legislators lay out first legislative proposals for protecting abortion in Washington

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 21, 2022

Gov. Jay Inslee pledged again on Friday to amend the state constitution to codify the right to an abortion in Washington.

News >  WA Government

Ballots for the November election are on their way, and so is a new local voter’s guide

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 20, 2022

The Spokane County Auditor's Office will mail out about 350,000 ballots for Nov. 8 election throughout the week. About 178,000 were mailed out on Wednesday with most of the rest going out Thursday, Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton said.

News >  Local Government

Getting There: New roundabout, bridges and Bigelow Gulch construction coming to Spokane in 2023 as part of six-year transportation plan

Mon., Oct. 17, 2022

Over the next six years, proposed construction in the county will cost about $190 million, though most of it will come from state and federal grants.

News >  Local Government

Wondering who to vote for this November? Here’s a list of local, statewide candidate debates to help you

Sat., Oct. 15, 2022

Over the last month and in the weeks leading up to the election, a number of state and local organizations have hosted debate forums to help inform the public ahead of the Nov. 8. 

News >  WA Government

Ferguson seeks $24.6 million from Facebook for campaign finance violations

Sat., Oct. 15, 2022

Attorney General Bob Ferguson is seeking the maximum penalty of $24.6 million against Facebook's parent company, Meta, for violations of Washington's campaign finance transparency law. 

News >  WA Government

Two Republicans with different takes on issues, incumbent Chase and former legislator Christian, vie for 4th Legislative District seat

UPDATED: Mon., Oct. 10, 2022

Inflation, public safety and COVID-19 recovery are top of mind for candidates running in the heavily Republican 4th Legislative District.

News >  Local Government

City redistricting board sends final map with little changes to Spokane council

Thu., Oct. 6, 2022

The City of Spokane Redistricting Board on Tuesday unanimously approved a map that will be sent to the city council for final adoption. The council will need to approve the new map, which focuses on minimal changes and a shared downtown, by Nov. 15. 

News >  WA Government

Mothers gather in Olympia to receive first birth certificates for stillborn babies

Tue., Oct. 4, 2022

After passing a law last legislative session, Washington became the 44th state in the country to allow families to request birth certificates. The law went into effect Saturday.

News >  WA Government

Republicans hopeful with Smiley Senate run, but likely face an uphill battle against longtime senator Murray

UPDATED: Mon., Oct. 10, 2022

There’s no doubt that Republicans are underdogs when trying to capture statewide office in Washington. They haven’t won an election for governor since 1980. They haven’t won a race for U.S. Senate since 1994. They hold no statewide offices.

News >  Local Government

Public hearing on heat pump mandate in Washington draws split testimony

UPDATED: Thu., Sept. 29, 2022

Supporters of the proposal say it would be a step toward reducing carbon emissions across the state, which Washington legislators and Gov. Jay Inslee have made a priority in the next decade. The controversial proposal has also drawn criticism from people across the state, especially those in Eastern Washington who say relying solely on heat pumps would be difficult and expensive in the cold winters. 

News >  WA Government

Crime, public safety top of mind for Graham, Kelso, House candidates for 6th district

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 5, 2022

Incumbent state Rep. Jenny Graham, a Republican who's served in the Legislature since 2018, is facing Michaela Kelso, a Democrat who lives in Deer Park. 

News >  WA Government

Candidates for Washington secretary of state disagree on experience, election management, cybersecurity

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 5, 2022

Democrat incumbent Steve Hobbs and nonpartisan Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson will face off in the general election this November after finishing in the top two in the primary election.

News >  Health

Washington in ‘markedly different place’ in COVID pandemic

UPDATED: Thu., Sept. 22, 2022

With only about 7% of hospital beds in the state occupied by COVID-19 patients, cases and hospitalizations are down, and the tools and treatments needed to fight the virus are much more readily available.