39th LD: Clear leaders in Pos. 1, Ewing passes Sutherland in Pos. 2
Published 9:15 pm Tuesday, August 4, 2026
EVERETT — The candidates heading to the November general election for District 39, Position 1 are likely set, but the race for second in Position 2 may come down to the wire, results showed Wednesday.
Washington’s Legislative District 39 includes most of north Snohomish County and all of west Skagit County, including Lake Stevens, Granite Falls, Darrington and some of Marysville.
The two candidates leading for each position will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
Snohomish County will certify its election results on Aug. 18; statewide results will be certified by Aug. 21.
State representatives make $72,494.
Incumbent Republican Sam Low and Democrat Kathryn Lewandowsky are both likely heading to the November general election, results showed Wednesday.
Lewandowsky led by just 7 votes with 43.89% of the vote, results showed.
Low came in a close second with 43.86% of the vote and Republican Wisniew trailed with 12.2%, early results showed.
Lewandowsky, 67, lives in Arlington, worked for 40 years as a nurse and is now semi-retired. She has previously run for multiple state positions but was never elected. Her campaign priorities included healthcare reform, improving affordability and protecting the environment, she said in an interview.
“Myself and my team are very encouraged by the results last night in our primary election and the results across the state and country,” Lewandowsky said in a Wednesday email. “It confirms our belief that we as citizens of Washington and the US are eager for change in our elected representatives. We have very real affordability problems and we need elected representatives that will offer real solutions that address the needs of the working class, not the needs of the corporate elite.”
As of Wednesday, Lewandowsky raised $2,925 in campaign contributions, state filings show.
Low, 56, was first elected to District 39, Position 1 in 2022. He is also serving his third and final term on the Snohomish County Council. He ran on a campaign that prioritized replacing the U.S. 2 trestle, raising special education funding and improving public safety, he said in an interview.
“I am pleased with the strong support from the voters once again in a divided primary,” Low said in an email Wednesday. “I look forward to sharing my strong record of working for everyone in LD39 with those voters who are undecided over the next few months.”
As of Wednesday, Low raised $140,993 in campaign contributions, state filings show.
Wisniew, 41, lives in Granite Falls. He is an electrician, small business owner and political newcomer. His campaign priorities included reducing government regulations, lowering taxes and reducing state spending, he said in an interview.
As of Wednesday, Wisniew raised $4,904 in campaign contributions, state filings show.
Democrat Ida Keeley was the clear leader with 46.4% of the vote in the open four-person race for District 12, Position 2, while Steve Ewing took the second spot from Robert Sutherland, results showed Wednesday.
Ewing was in second by 148 votes and had 25.76% of the vote, Wednesday results showed, with Sutherland behind at 25.16%. Both are Republicans.
Keeley, 49, lives in Lake Stevens, is the founder of Engage LLC and works as a leadership and strategic planning consultant. Her top priorities include protecting children and families, affordability, fully funding education and improving public safety, she said in an interview.
She will likely move on to the November general election, based on early results.
“I’m deeply grateful for the trust voters have placed in me and for everyone who supported this campaign,” Keeley said in an email Wednesday. “There are still many ballots to be counted, but I’m honored that our message of independent leadership, bringing people together, and putting local communities first has resonated with voters.”
As of Wednesday, Keeley raised $44,305 in campaign contributions, state filings show.
Sutherland, 66, is a retired biochemist who lives in Granite Falls. He served two terms representing District 39 in the Position 1 seat, losing reelection in 2022 to Low. His priorities include improving public safety, affordability, relieving traffic congestion and giving more power to parents, he said in an interview.
As of Wednesday, Sutherland raised $6,980 in campaign contributions, state filings show.
Ewing, 51, lives in Lake Stevens and works as an administrative hearings officer for the Washington State Department of Corrections. His top priorities include improving education, public safety, public roadways and reducing state spending, he said in an interview.
As of Wednesday, Ewing raised $83,057 in campaign contributions, state filings show.
Republican Lacey Sauvageau, 32, fell behind the rest of the pack, earning 2.6% of the vote, early results showed. Her priorities include improving affordability and lower taxes while increasing funding for public safety, pubic transportation and schools, she said in a statement.
Sauvageau opted for “mini reporting,” meaning she does not need to report campaign contributions if she receives and spends no more than $7,000.
Taylor Scott Richmond: 425-339-3046; taylor.richmond@heraldnet.com; Bluesky: @btayokay.bsky.social
