2024 Washington Statewide and Legislative August Primary Report

The 2024 August Primary finally arrived, and as of the first count, only 20.97% of Washington State voters have returned ballots in time for the initial count. It is expected that turnout for the Primary will ultimately be somewhere between 36% and 40% when all the votes are tallied. So far, it appears Democrat turnout was slightly higher than Republican turnout, but those numbers could change. It also appears that turnout for swing voters is also a bit lower for this election, which may slightly skew overall results towards Democrats.

Washington is an all-vote-by-mail state, and ballots will continue to flow into county election offices and be counted for the rest of this week and next, making the following numbers only very preliminary and tentative in many cases. In Washington’s Top 2 Primary, the two candidates earning the most votes will advance to the November General regardless of party preference. The General results may look quite different with the added Washingtonians driven to vote for United States Presidential candidates as well as the ballot initiatives promoted by Let’s Go Washington:

1. I 2117 — Repealing the Climate Commitment Act.
2. I 2109 — Repealing the Capital Gains Tax.
3. I 2124 — Repealing the Long-Term Care Act.
4. I 2066 — Repealing parts of the natural gas bill passed by the 2024 Legislature.

Please see this spreadsheet for detailed information on all races. We will continue to provide evening updates until the primary is resolved.

Red text indicates tight races for the General where both Ds and Rs will be vying heavily for the seat.

Statewide Races

Governor
With the retirement of Governor Jay Inslee (D), who has served in that capacity since 2013, Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) is well positioned to become Washington’s next governor if tonight’s trend holds through the General. While elections are not won on money alone, Ferguson has consistently had plenty of it to spend on voter contact. He is leading with 45.49% tonight over former Congressman and King County Sheriff Dave Reichert (R) with 27.92%. A Republican has not been in the Governor’s Mansion since John Spellman (1981-1985). In fact, there are no Republican statewide officeholders in Washington currently. 

Former Richland school board member and State Republican party-endorsed candidate Semi Bird (R) and Moderate Senator Mark Mullet (D-5) are out tonight after barely pulling single digits. Mullet will not be returning to the legislature, which may mean one fewer moderate Democrat in the Senate, where moderates have stalled many progressive agenda items in recent years.

Lieutenant Governor

Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck (D) won handily with 48.67% of the vote over Dan Matthews (R) at 22.5% and Bob Hagglund (R) at 16.69%. Heck and Matthews are likely to advance to the General.

Attorney General

Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s long-awaited run for Governor opened this important position as the state’s top lawyer, a position he held for three terms. Second Amendment advocate Pete Serrano (R) received nearly all of the Republican votes at 41.85%, and Former U.S. Attorney Nick Brown (D) and Senator Manka Dhingra (D-45) split the Democrat vote with 35.9% and 22.18%, respectively.  Brown maintained a considerable fundraising lead over Dhingra throughout the campaign until Dhingra put in $250,000 of her own money the week prior to the Primary. Senator Dhingra will be returning to the legislature if she is defeated in the Primary, which tonight looks very probable.

Insurance Commissioner

Embattled Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler announced his retirement earlier this year, and consumer advocate and lawyer Senator Patty Kuderer (D-48) quickly emerged as the frontrunner in fundraising for the race. Tonight, Kuderer earned 44.8 % over runner-up Senator Phil Fortunato (R), who received 27.98%. Fortunato had previously been raising money for the Secretary of State race until a Republican challenger to Patty Kuderer did not emerge. Fortunato will return to the legislature if he loses in the General.

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal (D) is maintaining a lead over Gig Harbor school board member David Olson (R) with 39.55% and 31.06%, respectively. Former teacher Reid Saaris (D) is unlikely to advance to the General.

Public Lands Commissioner

Tonight Former Congresswoman from Southwest Washington Jamie Herrera Beutler (R) is leading in the race for Public Lands Commissioner with 22.64%. Retired Power Manager at Grays Harbor PUD Sue Pederson (R) who is endorsed by the State Republican party (Herrera Beutler was not), is close behind with 20.26%. King County Councilmember and environmental advocate Dave Upthegrove (D) received the second largest IE spend in the PLC race from the Washington Conservation Voters Action Fund for Upthegrove at $368,295.73 but tonight is trailing with 19.85%.  Makah tribal member and DNR executive team member Patrick DePoe (D) received 13.22%. Moderate Senator and timber industry favorite Kevin Van De Wege (D-24) has only 8.19%. Van De Wege received the largest Independent Expenditure in the PLC race courtesy of the Firefighters for Protecting Public Lands, which recently spent $736,246.52 in favor of his campaign. Van De Wege will not be returning to the legislature. This race is too close to call, with King County results favoring Upthegrove.

Secretary of State

Incumbent Secretary of State Steve Hobbs (D) has beaten self-proclaimed whistleblower Dale Whitaker (R) with 49% over 36.8%. Both candidates will advance to the General.

State Auditor

Incumbent State Auditor Pat McCarthy (D) will win over Investor and businessman Matt Hawkins (R) with 59.16% and 40.75%, respectively. Both will advance to the General.

State Treasurer

Incumbent State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti (D) won with 58.65% this evening over Certified Public Accountant Sharon Hanek (R), who earned 41.26%. They will both advance to the General.

Legislative Races

The current composition of the House is 58 Democrats to 40 Republicans, and the Senate is 29 Democrats to 20 Republicans.

Spokane and Eastern

One of the surprises of the 2024 session was the announcement that Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig (D-3) would not seek re-election, opening not only a safe Democrat Senate seat but the position of Majority Leader, which will be voted on by the Senate Democrats after the 2024 General Election. The retirement of Majority Leader Senator Andy Billig (D-3) opened Spokane’s Senate seat, for which Representative Marcus Riccelli (D-3) jumped into a campaign immediately. His opponent dropped out, and he is all but guaranteed to win the General.

In the race to fill Riccelli’s House seat, Tony Kiepe (R) is leading at 34.21%, Ben Stuckart (D) is trailing Kiepe at 33.62%, and Natasha Hill (D) is currently in third with 31.94%. This race is too close to call.

Senator Mike Padden (R-4) retired this year from a safe Republican district and endorsed Spokane Valley Planning Commission member Mike Kelly (R), who received only 18.88% of the vote tonight. Representative Leonard Christian (R-4) is leading the Republicans with 20.86%. Miguel Valencia (D) is the leading Democrat with 23.15%. Business owner Al Merkel (R) is at 11.51%, Spokane Valley Councilmember Pam Haley (R) is at 13.48%, and Paige Scott (D) is at 12.02%. This is still close enough that Kelly could gain enough votes to tighten the race.

In the crowded field in the 4th to replace Representative Leonard Christian (R-4) in House seat 2, former Representative Rob Chase (R) is attempting to reclaim a seat in the legislature.  He currently is in second with 22.99% to Ted Cummings (D) who is leading at 25.75%. Former Spokane Valley Deputy Mayor and City Council member Brandi Peetz (R) is trailing Chase by less than 1% at 22.18%. Michael Schmidt (R) is at $15.86%, Ed Wood (D) is at 9.28%, and Entrepreneur Stephen Major (R) Is at 3.86%. This race is too close to call.

The retirement of Representative Joel Kretz (R-7) in the safe Republican district spurred another congested field of Republicans. US Navy Reserve Commander Hunter Abell (R) is leading with 34.38%. Following in second place is US Army veteran and Springdale Town Council member Paul Dean (D) at 30.28%. Former senior staff member for Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers Pat Bell (R) is third with 21.32%, with Ronald McCoy (R) with 13.81%. Abell and Dean will advance to the General.

In the race for the open House seat vacated by Representative Jacqueline Maycumber’s (R-7) run for Congress, former congressional aide Andrew Engell (R) Is leading 45.6% to Tonasket City Councilmember Teagan Levine (R) and Former Twisp Mayor Soo Ing-Moody (R) with 26.25% and 26.09% respectively.  This race is too close to call for Levine and Moody.

South Sound

In the 2nd, former House Minority Leader JT Wilcox (R-2) announced his retirement earlier this year. Wilcox is supporting former Thurston County Sheriff John Snaza (R), who tonight trailed Physician Assistant and law student Matt Marshall (R), who earned a whopping 34.83% of the vote. Snaza earned 28.6%. Marshall will likely face off against Snaza in the General. Democrat Yana Cook (D) received 23.17%, while Michael Holloman (D) received only 13.29%.

This year, incumbent Senator Jim McCune (R-2) was challenged by Eatonville School Board Member Ronda Litzenberger (R). Litzenberger has received the support of Senate Minority Leader John Braun (R-20), Deputy Leader Chris Gildon (R-25), and former House Minority Leader JT Wilcox (R-2), but she is currently trailing Gonzalez by 8 points and would need a big push to reach the top 2. McCune is leading overall with 38.64%. Bethel School Board Member Erasmo Ruiz Gonzalez (D) is currently at 34.43%

There is an open Senate seat on the 22nd as a result of the retirement of longtime Senator Sam Hunt (D-22). As soon as Hunt announced his retirement, Representative Jessica Bateman (D-22) jumped into the race. She is winning handily at 69.78% tonight. Bob Lyall (D) trails at 20.37%, and Tela Hogle (D) at 7.15%. To fill Bateman’s open House seat in the 22nd, Veterinarian Lisa Parshley (D) is winning at 65.55%, and Representative Steve Bergquist’s former legislative assistant Syd Locke (D) is at 31.05%.
 

In the 25th, there is an open House seat vacated by Representative Kelly Chambers (R-25), who is running for Pierce County Executive. Former USAF pilot and school board member Michael Keaton (R) at 55.41% and business owner Cameron Severns (D) at 44.52%. Both will advance to the General.

Incumbent Representative Melanie Morgan (D-29) is winning at 66.85%, with Democrat challenger real estate agent Richard Miller (D) at 27.56%.  Both will advance.

Representative Eric Robertson (R-31) 's retirement left an open House seat in the 31st. Orting Mayor and USMC veteran Joshua Penner (R), at 37.77%, and Brian Gunn (D), at 30.3%, will advance to the General. Commercial real estate broker Brandon Beynon (R) and Bill Thomas (D) trail at 24.08% and 7.71%, respectively.

Puget Sound

Mullet’s unsuccessful bid for Governor meant giving up his Senate seat in the 5th. Representative Bill Ramos (D) wasted no time last summer in starting to fundraise. Former 5th District Representative Chad Magendanz (R) had been campaigning to be the next Superintendent of Public Instruction until this spring when the state Republican party endorsed David Olson (R) at which point he switched gears to campaign against Ramos for Senate. Tonight, Ramos earned 53.97% to Magendanz’s 45.96%. Both will advance to the General.

In the crowded race of Democrats to take Ramos’ House seat, Scientist Victoria Hunt (D) is leading with 34.95% with Former Representative in the 47th Mark Hargrove (R) trailing at 27.84%. Vice-chair of King County Republican Party, Landon Halvorson (R), is at 16.99%, disability rights advocate Jason Ritchie (D) is at 10.31%, and Black Diamond City Councilmember Kristiana De Leon (D) is at 9.89%.  Hunt and Hargrove will advance to the General.

With House Speaker Emeritus Frank Chopp (D-43) retiring, several Democrats are vying for his open seat without any Republican challengers in this safe Democratic district. 

Statewide Poverty Action Network policy lead Shaun Scott (D) is winning at 54.2%, and PCO Andrea Suarez (D) trails at 23.27%. Both will advance to the General.

Representative Larry Springer (D-45) is being challenged by a fellow Democrat, Melissa Demyan. With the endorsements of labor, King County Democrats, and Planned Parenthood Votes, Demyan has challenged the more business-friendly Springer but is trailing in cash on hand by a 10:1 advantage by Springer. Tonight, Springer has 52.02%, and Demyan has 44.68%. Both will advance to the General.

Central Washington

Of all areas in the state, Central Washington saw substantive changes in district boundaries this year as a result of a prolonged redistricting process in the Yakima Valley that rippled outward.

Representative Keith Goehner (R-12) will easily win the Senate seat against Democrat opponent former Snoqualmie City Councilmember Jim Mayhew (D) with 54.52% and 45.36%, respectively. In the House, there is an open seat vacated as a result of Representative Keith Goehner’s (R-12) decision to run for the Senate seat that, prior to redistricting, belonged to Senator Brad Hawkins (R-12). Tonight, law enforcement officer Brian Burnett (R) is at 40.23%, and Monroe School Board member Jennifer Bumpus (R) is at 13.47%. Nurse Heather Koellen (D) is at 46.22%. Burnett and Koellen will advance to the General.  Incumbent Representative Mike Steele (R-12) was challenged by fellow Republican Daniel Scott (R). Steele is currently leading 71.91% to 23.32%.

Democrats have been fundraising in Puget Sound for the newly redrawn 14th, with big hopes for progressives to pick up seats, but that may not have been time or money well spent this year. For the Senate seat, community organizer Maria Beltran (D) has raised $218,849.47 and spent $172,304.36 and there have been $170,241.84 in IEs For Beltran. But tonight, Incumbent Senator Curtis King (R-14) is leading 57.46% to Beltran’s 42.32%. King moved a few blocks to stay in the district earlier this year.  He has raised $417,582.57 and spent $97,169.76.  Additionally, there has been $245,881.18 spent in IEs for King. Both will advance to the General.

In the open seat vacated by Representative Chris Corry (R-14) who is now running in the 15th, communications professional Chelsea Dimas (D) has raised $53,835.92 while spending $28,442.45 There has been $12,248.06 spent in IEs against. Former Grandview City Council Member and Mayor Gloria Mendoza (R) Is leading in fundraising with $112,469.77 in contributions with $77,297.33 in expenditures. Law enforcement officer Andy Kallinen (R) is below $2,500 in both contributions and spending. Tonight, Dimas is leading the vote count with 37.62% with Mendoza in second with 32.13%. Kallinen is not far behind at 30.02%. The Republican vote count is likely too great for Dimas to overcome in the General.

Also, on the 14th, there is an open seat vacated by Representative Gina Mosbrucker (R-14), who was redistricted and retired rather than move or run in a new area. Nonprofit community development financial liaison Ana Ruiz Kennedy (D) has raised $82,681.92 while spending $76,743.28.  There has been almost $10,000 spent on IEs. Certified public accountant Deb Manjarrez (R) has raised $100,657.77 while spending $36,855.89. There has been $28,821.18 spent on IEs. Manjarrez is currently leading the vote count at 52.91% to Kennedy at 40.07%. Eddie Perez (no party stated) is in 3rd with 6.84%. Manjarrez and Kennedy will advance to the General.

For the open seat vacated by retiring Representative Bruce Chandler (R-15), Representative Chris Corry (R-14) will win the house race in the new district against Chase Foster (no party stated). Corry is leading 74.66% to 24.04%. In the open seat vacated by Representative Bryan Sandlin (R-15), former Representative and lawyer Jeremie Dufault (R) leads Rich Bright (R) 74.26% to 22.31%

Peninsula

Appointed Incumbent Greg Nance (D-23) has raised $128,700.19 and spent $90,455.25. Dentist Dr. John Gibbons (D) Raised $100,940 and spent $83,867.70 Public Interest lawyer Brynn Felix (D) Has raised the most ($168,269) and also spent the most at $160,652. Tonight Nance is leading with 46.17%. Jamie Miles (R) is second with 29.77%. Brynn Felix is 3rd with 18.77% and Gibbons is 4th with 5.24%.  Nance and Miles will advance to the General.

In the Senate seat vacated by Senator Kevin Van De Wege’s (D-24) run for Public Lands Commissioner, Representative Mike Chapman (D-24) is leading at 54.58% to Lawyer Marcia Kelbon (R) at 40.04%. James Russell (D) is 3rd with 5.32% For Chapman’s vacant House seat in the 24th, Senator Van De Wege’s former legislative assistant Adam Bernbaum (D) is leading 28.93% to Clallam County deputy prosecutor Matthew Roberson (R) at 27.21% Sequim School Board Member Eric Pickens (D) is 3rd with 17.28%. Makah welder and veteran Nate Tyler (D) is 4th with 13.77%  and JR Streifel (R) in 5th with 12.75%. Chapman and Kelbon will advance to the General.

The 26th is a true swing district currently represented by a Democrat Senator, Emily Randall, and two Republican House members. Preliminary results show Emily Randall will not be returning to the legislature and someone will be appointed later this year, as her congressional race is leading at 33.28%.  Drew MacEwen (R-35) is at 30.49%. Both Senators return to the legislature if they lose in the General.

In the open seat vacated by Representative Spencer Hutchins (R-26), who chose not to run for reelection, citing the strain on family and business, Addison Richards is leading 49.44% to Young at 35.25%. Henderson is 3rd at 15.22%. Lawyer Adison Richards (D) Has raised the most in the race with $154,490.31. Rental housing policy advocate Jim Henderson (R) campaigned hard alongside Caldier and raised $95,538.84 (and spent $76,720.51). Former Representative Jesse Young (R) raised $142,054.48 and has spent $107,192.93. Young also has had $18,240.93 in IE spending against him by Fix Washington (Reagan Fund), signaling his former colleagues do not want him back in the legislature, which appears to be a very possible outcome tonight.

Incumbent Representative Michelle Caldier (R-26) has had over $82,781.00 in IE spending for her race by Enterprise Washington. Her campaign has raised $117,652.30 and spent $94,573.03. Tiffany Mitchell (D) Mitchell previously served in the Oregon House of Representatives and raised $52,982.07 and spent $26,105.04.  Currently, Rep. Caldier is leading at 34.87%, to Mitchell at 29.86%. Rachel Harter (R) is at 17.16%, while Lori McPherson is 4th at 10.98%. Meteorologist Josh Smith (no party) is at 7.05%. Caldier and Mitchell will advance to the General.

Southwest

Representative Paul Harris (R-17) is running for the Senate seat vacated by retiring Senator Lynda Wilson (R-17). He has the highest IE spend against him by the Kennedy Fund in the amount of $224,180.26. Currently, he is leading 50.21% to Marla Keethler (D) with 49.62%. In Representative Harris’ old House seat, Nurse Terri Niles (D) is leading at 48.38% to Washougal Mayor David Stuebe (R) at 26.94%, with Operations Director for Let’s Go Washington Hannah Joy (R) a close 3rd at 24.56%. This race is too close to call.

In the 18th, Representative Greg Cheney (R-18) is running for Senate to replace retiring Senator Ann Rivers (R-18). This is the legislative race with the highest IE spending. The Leadership Council has spent $276,000 and the Citizens for Legislative Accountability (Enterprise Washington) has spent $93,000 for Cheney. Teacher Adrian Cortes (D) is currently leading with 46.82% of the vote, with the son of former Senator Don Benton, Brad Benton (R), in second with 30.71%. Rep. Cheney is in third with 22.38%. In Greg Cheney’s vacant House seat, teacher John Zingale (D) is leading with 48.29% with former Delta pilot John Ley (R) in second with 38.23%. Former Battle Ground Mayor Philip Johnson (R) is third with 13.35%. Cortes and Benton will most likely head to the General.

North Sound

The 10th is a true swing district currently represented by a Republican Senator and two Democrat House members. Incumbent Senator Ron Muzzall (R-10) has raised the most in all of the legislative races so far, with over $560,487.00 in contributions. He also has spent the most to date, with $462,878.30 in campaign expenditures. In terms of IE spending, he has the second largest IE spend for a legislative campaign. The Leadership Council and Sound Jobs (Enterprise Washington) have together spent $311,494 in favor of Muzzall. Island County Commissioner and social worker Janet St Clair (D) has raised the most in contributions for challengers to incumbents. $199,900.52 has been raised to date while $164,123.30 in expenditures. Currently Ron Muzzall is leading with 48.23%. St. Clair is second at 44.99%, with US Navy veteran Denny Sandberg (D) in 3rd with 6.7%. St Clair and Muzzall will advance to the General.

Incumbent Representative Clyde Shavers (D-10) has raised $124,006.33 and spent $86,828.87. He has the second-highest IE spend against him, $56,399.65 spent by the Reagan Fund. Shavers is currently winning 52.55%, with Carrie Kennedy (R) in second with 27.52%. Yvonne Gallardo (R) is third with 19.82%. It’s likely that Shavers will face Kennedy in the General.

In the safe Republican 39th, incumbent Sam Low (R-39) has been supported by his caucus and has raised $154,677.13 to $106,283.78 in expenditures. He has had a significant amount in IEs in support of his campaign to the tune of $57,880.25. The Jackson Legacy Fund, which usually just supports moderate Democrats, even spent $10,416.75. Former Representative Robert Sutherland (R), meanwhile, has raised $14,992.53 while spending $8,778.51. There has been $23,100.14 in IEs spent against the former legislator. The Jackson Legacy fund contributed $4,166.70 towards that IE. Low is currently leading at 37.69%, with Sutherland trailing at 27.18%. Zephaniah Borynack (D) is third with 20.68%. Independent Kathryn Lewandowsky is 4th with 14.68%. It’s likely it will be a rematch between Low and Sutherland in the General.

Summary of races to watch:

LD 5:

Senate-Ramos (D) vs. Magendaz (R)

LD 10:

Senate- Muzzall (D) vs. St.Claire (D)
House- Shavers (D) vs. Kennedy (R)

LD 17:

Senate match up too close to call currently

LD 18:

Senate-Cortes (D) vs. Benton (R)
House- Zingal (D) vs. Ley (R)

LD 26:

House- Richards (D) vs. Young (R)
House- Caldier (R) vs. Mitchell (D)

Congressional Races

3rd Congressional — Southwest Washington — First term Democratic Congress member Marie Gluesnkamp Perez (D) 46.7% is again being challenged by Joe Kent (R) 38.2%, a Trump MAGA supporter. The combined Republican percentage (CR%) equals 50.75%. This race will be hotly contested to the end of November.

4th Congressional — Central Washington — This will be a top-two Republican race. Incumbent Congressman Dan Newhouse (R) polled only 24.97% in the early counting. MAGA candidate Jerrod Sessler(R) leads with 29.77%. What’s unclear is who Tiffany Smiley (R) 19.47% will endorse, but the speculation is she will support Sessler (R) as Smiley (R) has been a stalwart Trump supporter.

5th Congressional — Spokane/Eastern Washington — This open seat was hotly contested by three leading Republicans. Former State Senator Michael Baumgartner (R), 28.14%, is far outpacing former State Senator Brian Dansel(R), 9.82%, and Former Representative Jacquelin Maycumber (R), 12.21%. Camela Conroy (D) 19.71% will face Baumgartner in the General, but the CD% for the D’s is only around 39%, so this likely won’t be a contested race in the General.

6th Congressional — Kitsap and Olympia Peninsulas Part of Tacoma — State Sen. Emily Randall (D) 33.28% holds a commanding lead over Lands Commissioner Hillary Franz (D) 25.66%. Randall (D) will face State Sen. Drew Mac Ewen (R) with 30% in the General, but the CD% for D's is nearly 59%, so this race is substantially over.

General Election Timeline

October 18

Start of an 18-day voting period (through Election Day). Ballots are mailed out, and Accessible Voting Units (AVUs) are available at voting centers.

October 28

Online and mail registrations must be received 8 days before Election Day.

Register to vote in person during business hours and any time before 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

November 5

Deadline for Washington State voter registration or updates (in person only).

November 5

General Election - Deposit your ballot in an official drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day.