Election 2024
A third Democrat joins contest for western Washington congressional seat
Jefferson County Commissioner Kate Dean kicked off a bid for Congress on Tuesday, becoming the third Democrat in the hunt to replace U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer when he retires next year. Dean, who is in her second term on the three-person commission, is a 25-year county resident and has co-founded three businesses – Old Tarboo […]
Initiative poses extra hurdle for merging of Washington, California carbon markets
Gov. Jay Inslee and Democratic legislators see linking Washington’s cap-and-trade program with carbon markets in California and Quebec as a critical next step for the signature climate policy and are pushing ahead to make it happen. But a ballot measure to repeal the Climate Commitment Act may slow their pursuit – unless they are willing […]
Crime, taxes and artificial intelligence on tap as WA lawmakers prep for session
Rising costs of transportation projects. Using artificial intelligence in Washington classrooms. Preserving affordable housing. Spending proceeds from the state’s new capital gains tax and recent cap-and-trade auctions. Those are a few topics state lawmakers will delve into when they return to Olympia for committee days, an annual fete in which they get schooled on issues […]
Franz says opportunity, not opportunism, driving her bid for WA seat in Congress
Hilary Franz issued an urgent proclamation in spring when she launched her bid for Washington governor. “Anything shy of epic won’t cut it,” she said in May. “There’s no shortage of challenges, but I know we can tackle them together. Six months later, Franz, Washington’s two-term Democratic Commissioner of Public Lands, is pursuing a new […]
Petitions filed for initiative to erase Washington’s ambitious climate law
Washington’s controversial carbon pricing scheme drew fire and praise Tuesday as critics turned in signatures for an initiative to repeal the program, while its architects, including the governor, vowed to fight the measure should it reach the ballot. Shortly before 1 p.m., opponents, led by a hedge fund manager and the leader of the state […]
Democrat Emily Randall enters race for Washington congressional seat
Democratic state Sen. Emily Randall on Thursday kicked off a campaign to succeed U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer next year, touting her lifelong ties with communities throughout the western Washington congressional district. Randall, who grew up in Port Orchard and lives in Bremerton, said she’ll work to expand higher education access, lower health care costs, and […]
Franz halts bid for WA governor, sets sights on Congress
Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz on Friday ended her bid for governor and launched a new campaign for Congress. Franz, a Democrat, said she is running to succeed Democratic Rep. Derek Kilmer in the 6th Congressional District which encompasses the Olympic Peninsula, the Kitsap Peninsula and much of Tacoma. Kilmer, who announced Thursday he […]
Spending mess in Congress could arch over into pivotal 2024 election year
WASHINGTON — Congress will need to pass a second stopgap funding measure before Thanksgiving if lawmakers want to avoid a government shutdown, though pushing off final decisions on full-year spending bills until next year would put lawmakers smack dab in the middle of what’s expected to be a contentious 2024 primary season. During election years, […]
Sparring on WA initiatives begins as signature-gathering continues
Brian Heywood didn’t bristle Friday on hearing initiatives he’s bankrolling with his own millions came up big losers in polling carried out by opponents of the measures. The conservative hedge fund manager laughed. “I hope they believe their polls with their entire souls,” he said. Heywood has provided $5 million for signature-gathering for six initiatives. […]
Campaign cash pouring into southwest WA congressional race
U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat whose unexpected win in 2022 flipped a Republican-held seat in southwest Washington, has amassed $2.1 million for a re-election bid next year, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission. Gluesenkamp Perez hauled in $600,000 in the three-month period ending Sept. 30, outpacing Joe Kent and Leslie Lewallen, […]
WA lands commissioner race heats up with former GOP congresswoman’s entry
Former congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler entered the race for Washington’s Commissioner of Public Lands on Tuesday, giving Republicans a top-flight candidate in what’s shaping up as one of next year’s hottest electoral contests. Herrera Beutler, whose decision had been the subject of speculation for months, said she would focus on reducing the risk of catastrophic […]
DeSantis unveils campaign ‘leadership team’ for Washington
A slew of Republican leaders are signing on to steer Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign in Washington, including a major fundraiser for former president Donald Trump. State Sen. Phil Fortunato of Auburn, state Rep. Chris Corry of Yakima, and King County Council member Reagan Dunn of Covington are among 16 people on a Washington […]