King County 2022 Primary: Here's What's On The Ballot This August

RENTON, WA — King County Elections has finalized the slate of candidates and ballot measures that voters will see on their August primary ballots, and it looks to be a pretty crowded field. The candidate filing window closed on May 20, and Monday was the last day for candidates to withdraw from consideration.

Now, voters can know exactly what to expect as 163 candidates compete for 52 offices that are up for election around the region.

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.

Four Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives will also appear on August ballots: Reps. Pramila Jayapal, Suzan DelBene, Kim Schrier and Adam Smith. 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.

Reps. Jayapal, DelBene and Smith comfortably held off their challengers in the last election.

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.

More than a dozen legislative districts have state representatives or senators up for re-election this year, and many races attracted at least two candidates. Some incumbents are running unopposed, including Frank Chopp, Nicole Macri and Jamie Pedersen in District 43.

Voters in some cities will see ballot measures in the primary, which were filed by Normandy Park, Skykomish School District, Enumclaw Fire Department, King County Fire Protection District 34, Mountain View Fire and Rescue and the Si View Metropolitan District.

King County voters still have plenty of time to research candidates seeking office in this year's August primaries, with ballots scheduled to hit mailboxes in mid-summer. Ballots will be mailed to registered voters starting July 13, and drop boxes will open around the region the next day. All ballots will be due back no later than 8 p.m. on Aug. 2.

Here are a few links to get a head start on primary season in King County:

• What's on the ballot - Candidates
• What's on the ballot - Ballot Measures
• Register to vote or update your registration online