August Primary Ballots Mail Friday In Pierce County: What To Know

PIERCE COUNTY, WA — August primary ballots are heading out to more than 550,000 Pierce County voters this week, where residents will decide the top two candidates for several state and federal offices to advance to the November midterms.

Three county council seats are also in play this year, along with the Pierce County auditor's office. Some communities will also decide the fates of emergency medical services levies, including for Central Pierce Fire & Rescue, South Pierce Fire & Rescue and Gig Harbor Fire.

On the federal level, Sen. Patty Murray's seat is up for election and she will face 17 challengers in the primary, including Democrats and Republicans, independents and unaffiliated candidates.

Three Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives will also appear on August ballots: Reps. Derek Kilmer, Marilyn Strickland, and Kim Schrier. Schrier, who flipped the 8th District in 2018 and was reelected in 2020, could face an especially strong challenge this year, attracting some high-profile Republicans, including King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn, Matt Larkin, and Jesse Jensen. Jensen ran against Schrier in the 2020 general election and was defeated by less than four points.

Strickland, the former mayor of Tacoma, is running for re-election for the first time, having secured her seat back in 2020. Derek Kilmer has held the 6th congressional district since 2013.

A central race on the state level will be the race for Secretary of State, with eight candidates vying for the job. Longtime Republican incumbent Kim Wyman stepped down late last year to accept an appointment in the Biden administration. Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Democratic state Sen. Steve Hobbs to fill the role, and he is on the ballot seeking a full term. His challengers include Julie Anderson, the Pierce County Auditor, who is running as a nonpartisan.

Pierce County Council's districts 1, 5, and 7 are also up for grabs, including the seat of current Council Chairman Derek Young. Young cannot run for re-election because of term limits, but five candidates have filed to run for his seat. District 5 incumbent Marty Campbell will face challenger Nancy Dailey Slotnick, and Dave Morell, who currently holds the District 1 seat, will face Timothy Tooker.

Primary ballots mail July 15 and are due back on Aug. 2

Voters should begin checking their mailboxes Friday for their ballots, which must be postmarked by Aug. 2 or returned to a drop box or voting center by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Voters who need to register or update their registration can still do so online or by mail until July 25. In-person registration is available until the polls close.

The Pierce County Auditor's Office projects 35 percent of voters will participate in this year's primary.

Here are a few links to get a head start in Pierce County:

• Learn which candidates are on the ballot.
• Learn about the 2022 precinct changes.
• Check if you are registered to vote.
• Find a ballot drop box near you.

Charles Woodman contributed to this report.