Top 2 Primary creates some all-in-the-family races
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Ten of Washington's 123 legislative races pit finalists who prefer the same political party, 25 lawmakers will be elected without opposition at all, and most of the rest will be traditional smackdowns between candidates who prefer the two mainline political parties.
Washington's Top 2 Primary system, adopted as the "People's Choice Initiative" in 2004 and later upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, allows all voters to choose their favorite for each office, without regard to party preference. The two who get the most votes advance to the November general election. This is the third election with the new voter-approved system.
As in the last big legislative election cycle, 2008, most of the contested races this election are traditional matchups, but in some largely one-party districts, the two runoff spots were won by candidates who prefer the same party.
Two of this year's 25 Senate races will feature only candidates who prefers the Republican Party. In the 8th District, incumbent Jerome Delvin is challenged by Brad Anderson. In the 31st, incumbent Pam Roach faces Matt Richardson.
Five candidates will be elected to the Senate without opposition -- Janea Holmquist (prefers R) in the 13th, Jim Honeyford (prefers R) in the 15th, Sharon Nelson (prefers D) in the 34th, Ed Murray (prefers D) in the 43rd, and Scott White (prefers D) in the 46th. The other Senate races will be traditional matchups.
Eight House seats pit two people with the same party preference. In the 2nd District, incumbent Tom Campbell is challenged by J.T. Wilcox (both prefer R); 9th District, incumbent Joe Schmick is challenged by Glen Stockwell (both prefer R); 12th, incumbent Mike Armstrong faces Cliff Courtney (both prefer R); 14th, incumbent Norm Johnson is challenged by Michele Strobel (both prefer R); 27th, open seat, Laurie Jinkins and Jake Fey (both prefer D); 31st, open seat, Cathy Dahlquist and Shawn Bunney (both prefer R); 34th (open seat), Joe Fitzgibbon and Mike Heavey (both prefer D); and 37th, incumbent Eric Pettigrew challenged by John Stafford (both prefer D).
Twenty House contests drew only one candidate -- 14 prefer R and six prefer D. Seventy seats have candidates from opposite party preference.
None of the congressional races involve finalists with the same party preference.
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Tip of the hat to Patrick McDonald, assistant to Secretary of State Sam Reed, for the research.
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Secretary of State
Steve Hobbs
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