Hundreds of Candidates File for Election; Some Big Surprises

Last Friday was the deadline for candidates to file for the office they wish to seek.  This year’s election is shaping up to be a free-for-all in a number of high profile races, as well as some down ballot contests.

For U.S. Congress, Sen. Maria Cantwell is running for a third term for U.S. Senate.  She has a very good chance to retain her seat but is being challenged by first term state Senator Michael Baumgartner of Spokane, http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/senators/Pages/baumgartner.aspx.

Each of the ten seats for the U.S. House of Representatives will be contested, including the new 10th District that was created due to Washington’s population growth.  The top Democrat in that seat is Denny Heck, a former legislator, tech savvy investor and former top advisor to Gov. Booth Gardner.  Two credible Republicans are also challenging for the new congressional seat, Stan Flemming, a former legislator and Lakewood City Council Member, and former Pierce County Council member Dick Muri.

The newly redistricted First District has a slew of candidates running for this open seat that has been vacated by Jay Inslee.  Current state Senator Steve Hobbs, http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/senators/Pages/hobbs.aspx is being challenged by former Dept. of Revenue Director and former Microsoft employee Suzan DelBene and former state legislator Laura Ruderman.  The top Republican candidate is Snohomish County Council member and former state legislator John Koster.

What is shaping up to be a race of national significance is the contest for Governor, pitting current Attorney General Rob McKenna against former Congressman Jay Inslee.

This means that the Attorney General’s office is now open, with two King County Council members, Reagan Dunn and Bob Ferguson vying for the state chief law enforcement officer.

Secretary of State and State Auditor are also open seats as Sam Reed and Brian Sonntag are not running for reelection to these two seats, respectively.

A few big surprises occurred in the state Senate as Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/senators/Pages/brown.aspx is not running, nor is top Republican budget guru Joe Zarelli, http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/senators/Pages/zarelli.aspx

The state Senate is currently controlled by the Democrats 27-22,while the Democrats control the House by a 56-42 margin.  Half the state Senate is being contested while all 98 state House seats are up for election.

You can view all the candidates on the Secretary of state’s website: https://wei.sos.wa.gov/agency/osos/en/candidatefiling/Pages/candidates_who_have_filed.aspx

WTIA will be holding two candidate networking events; the first June 27 and the second on August 22.  Be on the lookout for those and please attend.

The primary election is August 7 and the general election is November 6.