Primary election underway

RITZVILLE — The Aug. 6 primary election is underway, with ballots expected to have already been delivered to registered voters.

Adams County elections officials mailed more than 8,000 ballots to registered voters last week, officials said, noting voters who have not received their ballots by Friday, July 26, should contact the Elections Department of the county Auditor’s Office.

To be counted, ballots must be postmarked on or before Tuesday, Aug. 6.

Voters waiting until election day to cast their ballots should consider using one of the county’s ballot drop boxes said.

Ballots can be returned in person before 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6, at the following locations:

Lind — City Hall, 116 ½ W. Second St.

Othello — Adams County Services Building, 425 E. Mail St.

Ritzville — Adams County Elections Office, 106 W. Main Ave .; Adams County Courthouse, 210 W. Broadway Ave, Suite 200; and Ritzville City Hall, 216 E. Main Ave.

Washtucna — City Hall, 165 S. Main St.

Citizens who want to vote in the election, but have not yet registered, can do so online or via mail on or before July 29.

From July 30 to Aug. 6, last-minute registration is only available at the County Elections Office, 106 W. Main Ave.

The Aug. 6 primary election contains dozens of candidates for local and state offices. And while 2 candidates advance to the Nov. 5 general election, officials remind voters that they may only select one candidate per race.

Candidates vying for the 4th Congressional District seat, which represents western Adams County and other areas of Central Washington include:

Independents — Benny Garcia.

Democrats — Mary Baechler, John Malan, Barry Knowles and “Birdie “Jane Muchlinski.

Republicans — Jerrod Sessler and Tiffany Smiley.

Incumbent Dan Newhouse of Sunnyside is running as “prefers Republican Party,” but has been censured by party committees for his vote to impeach former President Donald J. Trump. Newhouse is the only “Republican” remaining in Congress who voted to support impeachment — nine others were either voted out of office or did not seek re-election.

Trump has backed Sessler as the Republican candidate.

Candidates vying for the 5th Congressional District seat, which represents eastern Adams County and other areas of Eastern Washington include:

Republicans — Brian Dansel, Rick Valentine Flynn, Rene Holaday, Jacquelin Maycumber, Jonathan Bingle and Michael Baumgartner.

Democrats — Bernadine Bank, Ann Marie Danimus, Carmela Conroy and Bobbi Bennett-Wolcott.

The Republican party has backed Dansel, a Ferry County commissioner from Republican, to replace Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Spokane.

McMorris Rodgers is not seeking re-election.

In other local races:

Incumbent Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, is running against Democrat challenger Patrick Miller for the Legislative District No. 9 Position No. 1 seat.

Incumbent Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, is being challenged by Democrats Pam Kohlmeier and Arianna Arends for the Legislative District No. 9 Position No. 2 seat.

Challenger David Lobe is running against Dan Blankenship for the Adams County Commission District No. 1 seat, and Hank Rivard is challenging Jay R. Weise for the Adams County Commmission District No. 2 seat. All four candidates are Republicans and both will advance to the general election.

One precinct officer race is also on the ballot, with Phil Peterson and John E. Faure facing off for the Ritville Rural SE precinct position.

Four minor taxing authorities also have continuing levies on the ballot, including Cemetery Distrit No. 1 (Washtucna), Cemetery District No. 2 (Othello), Parks and Recreation District No. 3 (Lind) and Parks and Recreation District No. 4 (Ritzville).

Statewide offices on the ballot include governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer, auditor and more. Overall, there are 654 elected offices and 94 local measures going before voters, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.