Filing week begins

RITZVILLE — The 2024 election season officially got underway Monday, May 6, with candidates filing for office.

Several political hopefuls were among the first to officially throw their hat in the ring and pay filing fees.

Among the local candidates who filed Monday are:

Adams County

Commissioner District No. 1 — David Lobe, R-Ritzville.

Superior Court Judicial Position No. 1 — K. Peter Palubicki of Ritzville.

Precinct Officers

Othello City Council District No. 1 — Kim Bailey.

Ritzville Ward No. 1 — Heidi Hunt.

Ritzville Rural Northwest — Mike Kline.

Ritzville Rural Southeast — Phil Peterson.

Several candidates also filed for Legislative positions for districts that include parts of Adams County. Those candidates include:

Legislative District No. 9

Representative No. 1 — Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy.

Senate — Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville.

Legislative District No. 13

Representative No. 1 — Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake.

Filing day also attracted candidates seeking to replace Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Spokane, who is retiring, and Dan Newhouse of Sunnyside.

Newhouse is trying to retain his seat in the 4th Congressional District as a Republican, even though Republican committees in the district previously censured him for voting to impeach President Donald Trump. Newhouse is the only one of 10 Republicans who voted for impeach to still be in Congress.

He is being challenged by Pasco-area farmer Tiffany Smiley, a Republican farmer whose husband was injured in Iraq.

The 4th Congressional District covers Central Washington from the Canadian border to Oregon, including western Adams County.

McMorris Rodgers is vacating the 5th Congressional District seat representing Eastern Washington, including Whitman, Spokane and eastern Adams Counties, among others.

Carmela Conroy of Spokane is the only Democrat to file for the seat, so far. Two Republicans filed so far, including Michael Baumgartner of Spokane and Rene Holaday of Addy.

The gubernatorial race also drew several candidates seeking to replace Gov. Jay Inslee, D-Bainbridge Island, who is not seeking reelection.

Republican candidates include Leoan A. Lawson of Aberdeen, Martin Lee Wheeler of Fall City, Jim Daniel of Goldendale and Bill Hirt of Bellevue.

Democrats vying for the office include Don L. Rivers of Seattle, El’ona Kearney of Seattle, Edward Cale IV of Seattle and Robert “Bob” Ferguson of Seattle.

Candidates also filing for the office as nonpartisan or independent include — Brian Bogen of Cle Elum, Frank Dare of Olympia and William Combs of Dayton.

Candidates who filed for other statewide positions include:

Attorney General — Nick Brown, D-Seattle; and Mank Dhingra, D-Redmond.

Auditor — Matt Hawkins, R-Spokane Valley; and Patrice McCarthy, D-Seattle.

Commissioner of Public Lands — Sue Kuehl Pederson, R-Lakewood; Kevin Van De Wege, D-Lake Sutherland and Jaime Herrera Beutler of Battle Ground.

Insurance Commissioner — Bill Boyd of Spokane, Phil Fortunato of Auburn, Chris D. Chung of Lakewood and John Pestinger of Seattle.

Lieutenant Governor — Bob Hagglund, R-Lake Stevens; Denny Heck, D-Olympia; and Patric Haman, R-Oak Harbor.

Secretary of State — Dale Whitaker, R-Spokane; Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens; and Mike Pellicciotti, D-Seattle.

Superintendent of Public Instruction — Chris Reykdal of Tumwater, David Olson of Tacoma and Reid Saaris of Seattle

Supreme Court

Position No. 2 — Sal Mungia of Seattle

Position No. 8 — Steve Gonzalez of Seattle

Position No. 9 — Sheryl McCloud of Seattle

Candidate filing closes Friday.

Candidates who file this week will face off in the August primary election, with the Top 2 candidates advancing to the November general election.