Washington State Primary Election Results - August 5th, 2026

Washington held its primary election yesterday, August 4. As of this morning, roughly 45% of the ballots have been counted statewide.

Washington uses a top-two primary system, where the two candidates receiving the most votes regardless of party advance to the November 3 General Election. As a vote-by-mail state, ballots postmarked by 8:00 p.m. Tuesday will still be counted, meaning final outcomes, especially in the tight races below, may not be clear for several days or even weeks. The figures below should be read as trends, not final. The primary will be certified on August 18th.

Legislative

There are very few truly competitive legislative districts in the state, but this year's fight over the new income tax and the 2026 supplemental operating budget, combined with multiple retirements in both chambers, has produced an unusually large number of Democrat-on-Democrat primaries, as labor-backed progressive challengers take on incumbents viewed as too centrist, too business-friendly, or too incremental. The primary election results set the stage for several competitive legislative races this fall. Democrats appear to possibly pick up seats and are positioned to compete for seats in the 17th and 18th Legislative Districts which are typical Republican stronghold districts. Moderate candidates also fared well, with Amy Walen (D-Kirkland) earning more than 50 percent of the vote and Addison Richards (D-Gig Harbor) advancing to the general election. The top races we are watching:

17th District (Vancouver). Democrats view the 17th Legislative District as one of their top House pickup opportunities in 2026. In House Position 1, Republican incumbent Kevin Waters finished with approximately 42% of the vote, while Democrat Ben Christly earned approximately 54%. In House Position 2, Republican incumbent David Stuebe at 43% and Democrat Diana Perez 55%, setting up one of the most competitive legislative races in the state this November.

18th Legislative (Vancouver). In House Position 1, Republican incumbent Stephanie McClintock received approximately 48% of the primary vote, while Democrat Randi Knott earned approximately 51%. In House Position 2, Republican incumbent John Ley received approximately 46%, while Democrat Deken Letinich earned approximately 53%. Democrats are expected to target both races as part of their effort to expand their House majority in southwest Washington.

26th District (Gig Harbor Area). Once again one of the state's few genuine swing districts. Sen. Deb Krishnadasan is at 56% against Republican Gary Parker's 43%. In the House, Rep. Adison Richards, one of only a handful of Democrats to vote against this year's income tax, faces a labor-backed primary challenge from Natalie Bornfleth, 38% to 17%. The second house seat vacated by retiring Republican Rep. Michelle Valdez drew a crowded field; Democrat Renee Hernandez Greenfield leads with 38%, behind Republican Katy Cornell 45%.

32nd District (Shoreline Area). The most crowded intra-party battlefield in the state this cycle. Rep. Cindy Ryu, challenging Sen. Jesse Salomon from the left, is at 40% to Salomon's 35%.

37th District (Seattle). Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos — in the seat since 1999, and the only incumbent in our tracked races to win the state labor council's endorsement over a progressive challenger — is at 53% against Kelabe Tewolde's 45%

42nd District (Whatcom County/Bellingham Area). With Sen. Sharon Shewmake retiring, this is one of the only open Senate seats in the state and one of the few places Republicans have a plausible pickup path as the GOP held this seat as recently as 2021. Establishment-backed Democrat Michael Shepard is at 27%, with Republican Erika Creydt at 46% and fellow Democrat Eamonn Collins, running to Shepard's left, at 24%.

43rd District (Seattle). Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, despite having help author and shepherd this year's income tax, nevertheless faces labor organizer Hannah Sabio-Howell, who is running to his left. Pedersen is at 71% to Sabio-Howell's 18%.

48th District (Kirkland/Redmond Area). The most expensive legislative primary in the state this cycle, with roughly $300,000 in outside spending. Rep. Amy Walen, one of the few Democrats to vote against both the income tax and the operating budget, is at 51% against Redmond City Councilmember Jessica Forsythe's 46%. Because only these two candidates filed, both advance to November regardless, so this result is about momentum rather than qualification.

Washington Supreme Court

This was an unusual year for Washington Supreme Court elections, with recent gubernatorial appointments and retirements leading to five seats on the ballot, two of which are open seats and two of which involve appointed incumbents barely four months on the job. With a distinct progressive tilt in recent decision-making by the high court, and the constitutionality of the income tax likely to land at the high court next year, interest, spending, and endorsements by progressive and business interests in most of the races will likely be record-setting by November.

Position 1. Recent appointee Justice Colleen Melody faces a challenge from Seattle tax attorney Scott Edwards, and Snohomish County attorney and part-time Superior Court Pro-Tem Commissioner Laura Christensen Colberg. Melody, backed by the traditional Democratic machinery, is at 51% in early results, with Edwards at 30% and Colberg at 18%. Edwards has generally been the business community’s preferred pick for this position.

Position 3. The retirement of Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis opened up this seat to three challengers, Court of Appeals Judge Michael Diaz, Mason County Superior Court Judge David Stevens, and ACLU lawyer Jaime Hawk. Most business groups made no recommendation in this race, given questions over Judge Stevens’ electability but have voiced concerns about Hawk’s philosophy. Judge Diaz is at 30%, Judge Stevens at 35%, and Hawk at 32%.

Position 4. The mandatory age-related retirement of Justice Charles Johnson opened up this seat to two challengers, and accordingly it did not appear on the primary ballot. Both candidates will go on to the November general election. It features progressive Court of Appeals Judge Ian Burke versus more moderate King County Superior Court Judge Sean O’Donnell.

Position 5. Recent appointee Theo Angelis is being challenged by retired municipal court judge David Larson, Thurston County Superior Court Judge Sharonda Amamillo, and Seattle appellate attorney Greg Miller. Larson won most of the business backing in this race, and is at 32%, with Angelis at 34%, Amamillo at 21%, and Miller at 11%.

Position 7. Incumbent Chief Justice Debra Stephens is running for re-election in her normal cycle, and attorneys Todd Bloom, Karim Merchant, and David Shelvey. Neither of the three have mounted much of a campaign, although Bloom has won the endorsement of some center or center-right organizations. The Chief Justice, who is expected to coast to victory, is at 54% with Bloom at 27%, Merchant at 11%, and Shelvey at 6%.

We'll continue to monitor these races as additional ballots are processed over the coming days and will send an update once trends solidify. Several are likely to take a week or more to call given the closeness of early margins and Washington's counting timeline.

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