Washington Primary Election ballots due Tuesday, August 4

DAYTON–Numerous state and local races will be determined by Washington and Columbia County voters when the dust settles after the August 4 Washington State Primary Election.

Voters may mail their ballot using the provided prepaid-postage envelope, or ballots may be delivered in person to the Auditor's Office at the Columbia County Courthouse, 341 E. Main Street, during regular business hours, or deposited at the drop box on the Commercial Street side of the courthouse campus, or at Starbuck City Hall, 200 Main Street, in Starbuck.

Eligible voters have until 8 p.m. on Primary Election Day to register in person to vote in the election. Online voter registration or registration by mail was subject to a Monday, July 27 deadline for this election.

The Primary will decide local races for Superior Court (Columbia, Garfield and Asotin) Judge Position 1 and 16th District State Senate as well as cull a long list of candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and a number of other statewide positions. The top two vote getters will advance to the General Election following the August 4 Primary Election.

Seeking the nonpartisan Snake River Circuit judge position, which covers Superior Courts in Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, are G. Scott Marinella of Dayton, Brooke J. Burns of Clarkston and R. Victor Bottomly, also of Clarkston.

Voters in the Patit, Brooklyn and Tucannon precincts will see candidates for County Commissioner No. 2, Mike Talbott and Marty Hall, both Republicans. Candidates Talbott and Hall also will appear on the ballots for voters in the Ping precinct and they will advance to the General Election in November.

Ballots in the Star, Mustard, Rainwater and Touchet precincts will only offer unopposed County Commissioner No. 1 candidate Ryan Rundell, who prefers the Republican party.

Alto, Columbia, Starbuck Country, Dayton and Starbuck City precincts will not vote on a County Commissioner office in the Primary. It is held by Commissioner Charles Amerein whose position is not up for election this year.

Seeking retiring Senator Maureen Walsh's 16th District Senate position are Perry Dozier of Waitsburg, Danielle Garbe Reser of Walla Walla, and 16th District Representative William "Bill" Jenkin of Prosser. Dozier and Jenkin favor the Republican Party and Garbe Reser favors the Democratic Party.

16th District House of Representative seats have two candidates vying for office. Representative Position 1, vacated by Rep. Jenkin as he seeks the Senate post, has Frances Chvatal (prefers Democratic Party) of Walla Walla, and Mark Klicker (prefers Republican Party) of Walla Walla, on the ballot.

State Representative Position 2, held by Rep. Skyler Rude, (R-16-Walla Walla), is being challenged for a second two-year term by Carly Coburn (prefers Democratic Party) of Pasco.

U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-5) faces four challengers: two Democrats, Chris Armitage and Dave Wilson, two Republicans, Stephen T. Major and Rob Chase, and one independent, Brendan O'Regant.

Washington Governor includes 36 candidates, including Jay Inslee (Incumbent) (Democratic Party); Cairo D'Almeida (Democratic Party); Gene Hart (Democratic Party); Don Rivers (Democratic Party); Omari Tahir-Garrett (Democratic Party); Richard Carpenter (Republican Party); Loren Culp (Republican Party); Tim Eyman (Republican Party); Phil Fortunato (Republican Party); Joshua Freed (Republican Party); Raul Garcia (Republican Party); Ian Gonzales (Republican Party); Tylor Grow (Republican Party); Bill Hirt (Republican Party); Matthew Murray (Republican Party); Martin Wheeler (Republican Party); William Miller (American Patriot Party); David Voltz (Cascadia Labour Party); David Blomstrom (Fifth Republic Party); Liz Hallock (Green Party); Joshua Wolf (New Liberty Party); Nate Herzog (Pre-2016 Republican Party); Winston Wilkes (Propertarianist Party); Henry Dennison (Socialist Workers Party); Alex Tsimerman (StandupAmerica Party); GoodSpaceGuy (Trump Republican Party); Leon Lawson (Trump Republican Party); Anton Sakharov (Trump Republican Party); Craig Campbell (Unaffiliated); Cregan Newhouse (Unaffiliated); Ryan Ryals (Unaffiliated); Cameron Vessey (Unaffiliated); Brian Weed (Unaffiliated); Thor Amundson (Independent); Elaina Gonzalez (Independent); Dylan Nails (Independent).

Lt. Governor candidates are Denny Heck (Democratic Party); Michelle Jasmer (Democratic Party); Marko Liias (Democratic Party); James Rafferty (Democratic Party); Joseph Brumbles (Republican Party); Marty McClendon (Republican Party); Dick Muri (Republican Party); Bill Penor (Republican Party); Ann Davison Sattler (Republican Party); Jared Frerichs (Libertarian Party); Matt Seymour (Libertarian Party).

Secretary of State has incumbent Kim Wyman (Republican Party) facing three challengers, Gael Tarleton (Democratic Party); Gentry Lange (Progressive Party of Washington State); Ed Minger (Independent).

State Treasurer: Duane A. Davidson (incumbent) (Republican Party); Mike Pellicciotti (Democratic Party).

State Auditor: Joshau Casey (Democratic Party); Chris Leyba (Republican Party); Pat (Patrice) McCarthy (Democratic Party).

Attorney General: Matt Larkin (Republican Party); Mike Vaska (GOP Party); Brett Rogers (Republican Party); Bob Ferguson (Democratic Party).

Commissioner of Public Lands: Cameron Whitney (Republican Party); Steve Sharon (Republican Party) Hilary Franz (Democratic Party); Kelsey Reves (Libertarian Party); Maryam Abasbarzy (Republican Party); Sue Kuehl Pederson (Republican Party); Frank Wallbrown (Democratic Party)

Superintendent of Public Instruction: Ron Higgins; Maia Espinoza; Stan Lippmann; David Spring; Dennis Wick; Chris Reykdal.

Insurance Commissioner: Anthony Welti (Blibertarian Party); Chirayu Avinsh Ratel (Republican Party); Mike Kreidler (Demcratic Party).