This year’s August primary will feature several key races for Pierce County office and the State Legislature. So far, the big news is Robyn Denson‘s decision to 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 key endorsements including Denson, County Executive Ryan Mello, County Council Chair Jani Hitchen, and others. The Coalition will interview Brenda later this month. Peninsula School Board Member Chuck West is the only other candidate in the race so far.

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 endorsed Yambe and will continue to do so. District 5 includes Northeast Tacoma, Southeast Tacoma, the Port of Tacoma, Fife, and Midland. Yambe does not yet have opposition. 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 and Kenneth King. Additionally, incumbent Linda Farmer remains unopposed in the race for Pierce County Auditor.

Two state legislative races in Pierce County currently stand out as competitive as we approach primary election season. In the 26th District, Rep. Michele Caldier is not running for another term. So far, 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. For the moment, Deb Krishnadasan will defend her State Senate seat versus Gary Parker, and Adison Richards will likely defend his seat for House Position 1 against perennial candidate David Olson.

The other race of interest is the open seat for House Position 2 in the 29th District. State Senator Steve Conway has decided to retire, creating an open seat that Rep. Sharlett Mena is likely to win this fall–she remains unopposed. This 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, and Erin Chapman-Smith. This race is emerging as perhaps the most interesting primary contest in the county. Rep. Melanie Morgan remains unopposed for House Position 1.

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. Finally, House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, Jake Fey, Mari Leavitt and Dan Bronoske all remain unopposed in races for their respective seats in the 27th and 28th Districts.