As filing ends, campaigning shifts into a higher gear

EVERETT — A politically diverse corps of candidates emerged Friday as the filing period for local, state and federal offices closed.

Voters will be filling 20 seats in the state Legislature — 16 House and four Senate — that represent portions of Snohomish County. There will be new faces. Retirements created open seats in the district encompassing Everett, Tulalip and part of Marysville.

There’s also contests for Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney, Snohomish County Public Utilities District commissioner, and 10 judicial seats in county District and Superior courts.

And voters will be casting ballots for four members of Congress as U.S. Reps. Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen and Kim Schrier are all up for re-election, as is Sen. Patty Murray.

The primary is Aug. 2. The general election is Nov. 8. In each race, the two candidates with the most votes in the primary will advance.

A battle for Secretary of State looms as one of the most interesting this primary.

Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, a moderate Democrat from Lake Stevens, was appointed to the job in November by Gov. Jay Inslee after Kim Wyman, a Republican, left to work in the Biden administration. He is seeking to retain the seat and serve out the remaining two years of Wyman’s term

Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson is among the challengers. She’s the lone election professional running and filed as “nonpartisan.”

There are two Republicans, Tamborine Borrelli of Gig Harbor, and Mark Miloscia of Federal Way, who have questioned the results of the 2020 presidential elections.

Borelli leads the Washington Election Integrity Coalition United, which has sued several counties alleging ballot manipulation and fraud in that election. Miloscia, a former state lawmaker who until recently led the Family Policy Institute of Washington in Lynnwood, has written that he does not trust election officials who say no fraud occurred in the presidential election.

Two other Republican candidates — state Sen. Keith Wagoner of Sedro Woolley and Bob Hagglund of Granite Falls — seek election reforms but have not publicly disputed the results in 2020 in Washington. The other candidates are Kurtis Engle of Lacey who is running on the Union party and Democrat Marquez Tiggs of Seattle.

On the federal level, Murray is seeking a sixth term and drew 17 challengers, including Republican Tiffany Smiley of Pasco, who has locked up backing from state and national GOP leaders.

An intriguing legislative fight is developing in the 39th Legislative District in the central and east parts of the county.

Rep. Robert Sutherland, R-Granite Falls, a two-term incumbent, faces a serious challenge from Republican Sam Low, a Snohomish County Council member who lives in Lake Stevens, a new part of the district. Democrat Claus Joens of Marblemount, who Sutherland defeated in 2020, filed, as did Karl de Jong, another Democrat, from Darrington.

And Rep. Carolyn Eslick, R-Sultan, who also serves in the 39th district, has three opponents. They are Jessica Wadhams of Lake Stevens, a Democrat; Kathryn Lewandowsky of Arlington, an independent; and Tyller Boomgaarden of Darrington, a Republican. Lewandowsky ran unsuccessfully for state Senate in 2020.

Meanwhile, one of the newest members of the county’s state legislative contingent appears on course to win re-election without a ballot fight.

No one filed to run against Republican state Reps. Keith Goehner of Dryden who serves in the 12th District, which now includes Monroe, Gold Bar and parts of Sultan as a result of redistricting.

While filing ended Friday, a candidate may withdraw from a race through 5 p.m. Monday, but their filing fee will not be refunded. After Monday, a candidate’s name will be on the ballot regardless of their intention to campaign or service.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @dospueblos.