Gov. Jay Inslee (center) is being challenged by 35 people, 32 of whom are pictured here, for his job. Row 1 (L-R): Phil Fortunato, Nate Herzog, William Miller, Anton Sakharov, Alex Tsimerman, Winston Wilkes, Bill Hirt, Cregan Newhouse, Richard Carpenter. Row 2 (L-R): Joshua Wolf, Thor Amundson, Goodspaceguy, Liz Hallock, Jay Inslee, Leon Lawson, Don Rivers, Henry Dennison. Row 3 (L-R): Omari Tahir Garrett, Joshua Free, David Blomstrom, Dylan Nails, Elaina Gonzalez, Cairo D’Almeida, Raul Garcia. Row 4 (L-R): Brian Weed, Cameron Vessey, Matthew Murray, Tim Eyman, Gene Hart, Martin Iceman Wheeler, Ian Gonzalez, Loren Culp. Not pictured: Tylor Grow, Craig Campbell, David Voltz.

Gov. Jay Inslee (center) is being challenged by 35 people, 32 of whom are pictured here, for his job. Row 1 (L-R): Phil Fortunato, Nate Herzog, William Miller, Anton Sakharov, Alex Tsimerman, Winston Wilkes, Bill Hirt, Cregan Newhouse, Richard Carpenter. Row 2 (L-R): Joshua Wolf, Thor Amundson, Goodspaceguy, Liz Hallock, Jay Inslee, Leon Lawson, Don Rivers, Henry Dennison. Row 3 (L-R): Omari Tahir Garrett, Joshua Free, David Blomstrom, Dylan Nails, Elaina Gonzalez, Cairo D’Almeida, Raul Garcia. Row 4 (L-R): Brian Weed, Cameron Vessey, Matthew Murray, Tim Eyman, Gene Hart, Martin Iceman Wheeler, Ian Gonzalez, Loren Culp. Not pictured: Tylor Grow, Craig Campbell, David Voltz.

Primary election 2020: Who will emerge as Inslee’s challenger?

Voting ends Tuesday in an election without big rallies and fund-raisers and face-to-face debates

The curtain comes down Aug. 4 on a primary election in which constraints of the pandemic compelled candidates to discard many traditional tools of campaigning and contacting voters.

COVID-19 put the kibosh on large in-person events such as fund-raisers and get-out-the-vote rallies. It quashed most door-to-door canvassing and forced candidates to debate each other virtually rather than in person.

In response, candidates looked to bolster their online presence by holding virtual town halls, posting issue-oriented videos and engaging actively on social media.

The top two candidates in each race will advance to the Nov. 3 general election. All statewide executive jobs are on the ballot.

Tuesday will determine who will emerge as the opponent to Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee. There are 35 challengers to the two-term governor, who is expected to win the primary.

A half dozen Republicans have been visibly campaigning the most: initiative promoter Tim Eyman of Bellevue, Republic police Chief Loren Culp, former Bothell mayor Joshua Freed, Yakima physician Dr. Raul Garcia, Auburn state Sen. Phil Fortunato and Seattle businessman Anton Sakharov.

Although Eyman is the most prolific e-mailer in the bunch, Freed and Culp are pulling in the most money. Freed reported raising $1.5 million — he’s provided about 45% of the sum — and Culp was at nearly $1.1 million, as of July 30, according to campaign finance records.

Another closely watched contest is for lieutenant governor. The job is coming open as Democratic Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib is retiring.

The 11-person field includes two prominent Democrats, state Sen. Marko Liias of Lynnwood and Congressman Denny Heck of Olympia. Among Republicans, Ann Davison Sattler, who ran for Seattle City Council in 2019, has raised the most money. Republicans Marty McClendon, who lost to Habib in 2016, and Joseph Brumbles, who lost to Heck in a congressional race in 2018, are among the other competitors.

Ballots returned by mail do not require a stamp but must be postmarked no later than Aug. 4 to count.

They also can be placed in one of the county’s designated drop boxes which will be open around the clock until 8 p.m. on Election Day.

It is not too late to participate. State law allows a person to register to vote, get a ballot and cast it the same day. There are three locations where this can be done in person from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Courtesy Photo, Kent Police
Kent City Council considers sales tax hike to hire more police

Council could approve measure without going to voters; hike would be 10 cents on every $100 purchase

t
Kent father, 26, killed in shooting June 16 on East Hill

Family identifies Leroy Tinoga, married father of two young children

King County’s Patricia Clark Children and Family Justice Center in Seattle, where juveniles facing criminal charges are detained. COURTESY PHOTO, King County
Man, juvenile face murder charges in Kent student’s death

Kent-Meridian High student fatally shot in June 2024 during drug deal at Campus Park

t
Signs at Reith Road roundabouts in Kent take a beating

Drivers knocking down directional and yield signs at two new roundabouts

t
Kent woman faces vehicular homicide charge in March crash

Wajiha Din also faces vehicular assault in collision that killed Jose Ortiz and injured his wife

Courtesy Photo
Kent man, 63, charged with robbing Auburn bank

The suspect wore no mask, but donned an orange safety vest.

File Photo, Kent Reporter
Man fatally shot on East Hill in Kent; found inside vehicle

Incident Monday afternoon, June 16 in area of SE 240th Street and 108th Avenue SE

t
People ‘fed up’ with Trump administration protest in Covington | Photos

Estimated crowd of 1,500 lines main street in town June 14 with signs and chants

t
Kent firefighters fight three fires in three days | Photos

Puget Sound Fire responds June 10-12 to camper, house and apartment fires; no injuries

Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. FILE PHOTO, Kent Reporter
Man receives 10-year sentence for Kent parking lot killing

Fatally shot man in 2023 after he approached vehicle with baseball bat as part of ongoing feud

File Photo, Kent Reporter
Kent Police Blotter: May 26 to June 8

Incidents include domestic violence, store robbery, vehicle pursuit, copper wire theft

Washington State STEM Signing Day 2025 honorees in a group photo at a celebration event on June 6, at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center (VMAC) in Renton. Courtesy photo.
Select Kent seniors, grads honored on STEM Signing Day

Two Kentridge High students, one Kent-Meridian student receive recognition