election
How U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson helped derail a fight against election lies
Back in July, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. A federal court had recently granted a temporary injunction, in Missouri v. Biden, finding that the Biden administration had violated the First Amendment by coercing social media companies to remove content, related both to elections and the COVID-19 vaccine, that […]
Lisa Brown on track to be Spokane’s next mayor
Update: Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward conceded late Monday in the race against Lisa Brown. As of Monday, Woodward had 47.7% of the vote, compared to Brown’s 51.7%. Longtime Democratic politician Lisa Brown will likely be the new mayor of Spokane, following a heated contest between her and incumbent Nadine Woodward. The race to lead Washington’s […]
Franz kicks off gubernatorial campaign at Seattle event
SEATTLE – Housing, reproductive health, climate change and rising living costs are all top of mind for 2024 gubernatorial hopeful Hilary Franz. Franz, Washington’s public lands chief, made her first foray onto the campaign trail Monday at the Edgewater Hotel pier, in front of a large mural of orcas and a group of supporters. Franz, […]
Repeal effort targets law to help trans youth in crisis
Voters may get the last word on a new law allowing emergency shelters to notify state authorities rather than parents when a youth seeks refuge as they pursue gender-affirming health care or reproductive services. Opponents contend the legislation undermines the power of parents and will attempt to repeal it with a referendum in November. They […]
Public lands chief Hilary Franz joins race for governor
Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz almost ran for governor in 2020. This time around she’s all in. Franz, a Democrat, launched her campaign Wednesday to succeed Gov. Jay Inslee, who said last week he would not seek a fourth term in 2024. If elected, she would be the state’s third woman to serve in the […]
The race begins for Washington attorney general
Democratic state Sen. Manka Dhingra, of Redmond, on Monday launched her campaign to become Washington’s next attorney general. Dhingra, a former senior deputy prosecuting attorney for King County and the current Senate deputy majority leader, is the first candidate to enter the race to succeed Democratic Attorney General Bob Ferguson who is campaigning for governor. […]
New House Republican leader charts a path in Democrat-dominated Legislature
The end of the legislative session in April brought a new Republican leader in the state House of Representatives. Rep. Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, was elected last month to lead his caucus after former leader, Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, stepped down. A King County Republican, Stokesbary’s election could usher in a new era for the House […]
He cast doubt on the 2020 election, now he wants a lead job tallying votes
A former state lawmaker who has fanned false claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election is vying for the job that oversees elections in Washington’s third most populous county. Republican Robert Sutherland is running for Snohomish County auditor in a contest expected to train a spotlight on the integrity of ballot counting and […]
Law would redirect surging public requests for election records
Following the 2020 elections, county auditors around the state saw public requests for election records spike, a trend driven at least in part by individuals and groups pushing disproven claims of widespread fraud at the polls. Auditors say fulfilling the requests posed a time-consuming lift for their thinly staffed offices. In the meantime, they’ve also […]