Grassroots Update: Washington’s 2026 Primary Election
Preliminary results in for some of the most-watched Primary Election races here in the state. If you have questions about your legislative district, candidates, election advocacy, or the outcome of the Primary, email Aidan Swayne.
The results, which reflect a voter turnout of 34% across the state, indicate Democrats are poised to add additional seats to their already hearty majority in the Legislature. Republican incumbents in Southwest Washington and the central Puget Sound area face major challenges in November. Driving this are districts like the 31st where Republicans lead by slim margins (200 to 400 votes) in all three races. In other races, including the 17th, both incumbent House members received roughly 5,000 fewer votes than their democratic challengers. A similar story played out in the 18th and 19th districts where democrats were insurgent against incumbents who are usually favored in elections.
But it wasn’t just Republican incumbents who faced new challenges. In the 29th legislative district (South Tacoma and Parkland), Rep. Melanie Morgan saw fewer votes than her challenger from the political left, Krista Perez. 28-year veteran legislator Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos also lost to progressive challenger, Kelabe Twolde. On the other hand, Hannah Sabio-Howell, who mounted a grassroots challenge to Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, won only 23% of the votes to Pedersen’s 67%.
In the other Washington, incumbent members of Congress won their primary nominations handedly while facing challengers from both sides of the aisle. The national race to watch is in Washington’s 4th congressional district which covers the center of the state from the Canadian border to Oregon. Congressman Dan Newhouse, who held the seat for six terms, announced his retirement and new faces, including Yakima County Commissioner Amanda McKinney, look to take his place.
While the stage is far from set, these results are indicative of changing political environments as conservative power concentrates in D.C. and progressives fortify themselves in response here at home.
