Wide ranging election set up November races

Central Washington’s longtime man in Congress, Rep. Dan Newhouse managed a majority in Grant County in last night’s primary, but that was the only county he won of the eight that the 4th Congressional District reaches into.

Newhouse was bested by challenger Jerrod Sessler, one of three fellow Republicans seeking to oust him from his seat following Newhouse’s vote in 2021 to impeach then-president Donald Trump.

Newhouse was leading by a nose in Grant, according to unofficial results at the Secretary of State’s Office, but overall, the district put Sessler at the top with 29.77% of the vote to Newhouse’s 24.97% in the top-two primary.

Voters will choose between the two Republicans on the ballot for the Nov. 6 General Election.

Other contested races affect the Grand Coulee Dam area, which is now split not just by four counties but by the 7th and 13th Legislative Districts.

Grant County voters chose Kevin Burgess by 49.79% and Amador Castro (28.8%) to go onto the November election for the county commissioner in District 1. Dave Bren carried 19.69% of the vote. All are Republican.

All of Grant County is now in the 13th LD, whose incumbents faced no real opposition.

In the 7th Legislative District, which reaches into seven counties, Andrew Engell dominated for State Representative Pos. 1 with 45.6%. He’ll meet Teagan Levine in the general. She garnered 26.25%. Soo Ing-Moody carried only Okanogan County with 37.27% of the vote there. All three are Republican.

The 7th District includes parts or all of Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, Ferry, Pend Oreille and Spokane counties.

Nick Timm will run in the general election for the Okanogan County Commissioner, District 1 after getting 47% of the vote Tuesday. Heal run against fellow Republican Marc Doney (26.62%). Michael Heath got 23.79%.

Lauren McCloy had a big lead (50.99%) in the Okanogan PUD District 2 commissioner race with 51% of the vote in the four-way non-partisan contest. Wayne Stevie also made the ballot with 26.47%.

In Lincoln County, all ballot propositons were passing overwhelmingly. Republican Joe Schmick got 79.09% of the vote for State Rep. Postion 2 in Legislative District 9 and will face Democrat Pam Kohlmeier (16.47%) in November.

The primary results will be certified on Aug. 20 by counties, then on Aug. 23 by the secretary of state.