This year’s August primary will feature several key races for Pierce County office and the State Legislature. Robyn Denson has decided not seek a second term for Pierce County Council. We will miss Denson’s leadership on the environment, and wish her all the best in her future endeavors. Former Gig Harbor City Councilmember and current Charter Review Commissioner Brenda Lykins has stepped forward to run for the District 7 seat. District 7 includes the Key Peninsula, Gig Harbor area, and North Tacoma. Lykins has already secured several endorsements including Denson, County Executive Ryan Mello, and County Council Chair Jani Hitchen. The Coalition recently interviewed Brenda, and we are pleased to endorse her! Peninsula School Board Member Chuck West and Ann Jolie are also running.

County Councilmember Bryan Yambe is running for his first full term after being appointed to the District 5 seat and then winning a special election last year. The Coalition already endorsed Yambe last year. District 5 includes Northeast Tacoma, Southeast Tacoma, the Port of Tacoma, Fife, and Midland. Yambe will face Bettina Gese in the general election. Elsewhere, three candidates have registered to run for the open seat in District 1, a more conservative district based in Sumner, Orting, and the Eastern Plateau: Republican Jerome O’Leary and Democrats Kelsey Barrans, Kenneth King, and Terrance Mayers Sr. Additionally, incumbent Linda Farmer will face Damon Townsend for the Pierce County Auditor position in the general election.

A handful of state legislative races in Pierce County currently stand out as competitive as we approach primary election season. In the 26th District, Adison Richards will defend his seat for House Position 1 against Democratic newcomer Natalie Bornfleth, perennial candidate David Olson, and Randy Phillips. Rep. Michele Caldier is not running for another term for House Position 2. Four candidates have registered and three of those are fundraising to vie for the open seat. Republican Katy Ann Cornell is likely to secure the top spot in the primary, while Tedd Wetherbee and Renee Hernandez Greenfield are both running on the Democratic side. Deb Krishnadasan will defend her State Senate seat versus Gary Parker in the general election.

In the 29th District, State Senator Steve Conway has decided to retire after an extensive tenure, creating an open seat that Rep. Sharlett Mena and fellow Democrat and TCC professor David Anderson will compete for. This in turn created an open seat for House Position 2 that has drawn several candidates who are busy fundraising and seeking endorsements, including Joe Bushnell, Patrick Stickney, Natasha Laitila, Erin Chapman-Smith, as well as two Republicans. This race is emerging as perhaps the most interesting primary contest in the county this year. Incumbent Rep. Melanie Morgan will face Krista Perez and perennial candidate Brett Johnson (GOP version, not me) in the primary. This race has potential to become competitive as well, considering past news regarding the incumbent.

Elsewhere, there are a few candidates stepping up to challenge Republican incumbents. Puyallup School Board Member David Berg and community advocate Jenn Strickling will compete for House seats in the 25th District, while Tamara Stramel will challenge Phil Fortunato for State Senate in the 31st District. Angela Taylor and Martin Miller will compete in the primary to face Rep. Matt Marshall in the 2nd District. Finally, House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, Jake Fey, Mari Leavitt and Dan Bronoske will defend their respective seats in the 27th and 28th Districts. They are either unopposed or very likely to win in the general election.