Candidates are lining up to run for a one-month stint in Congress,
There could be three, four or more candidates on the primary ballot for the vacant position in the old 1st Congressional District.
They will run for the last month of Jay Inslee’s term in the old 1st Congressional District.
Democrat J. Byron Holcomb, of Bainbridge Island, was the first to file Monday.
Another Democrat, Brian Berry, of Kenmore, filed Tuesday.
Democratic 32nd Legislative Chairwoman Carin Chase announced Tuesday that she plans to file later this week. She is the daughter of Democratic 32nd District State Sen. Maralyn Chase.
Meanwhile, former Lynnwood City Councilwoman Lisa Utter is gathering signatures to qualify for the ballot. Utter, like the other three, would run as a Democrat. She needs to gather 1,740 signatures by Friday afternoon. If not, she’ll have to decide whether to pay the $1,740 filing fee.
The position has been vacant since Inslee resigned to run for governor.
No Republican has expressed an interest in the position.
In other years the person elected in November would take the position right after the election, but redistricting has put part of the old 1st District into the 2nd District, where Utter lives, part into the 7th District, where Chase lives, part into the 6th District, where Holcomb lives and part into the new 1st District, where Berry lives.
None of the four is a candidate in his or her new district.
Ballots in Edmonds and Woodway will have contests for both the old 1st District and new 7th District. Ballots in Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and Brier will have races for both the old 1st District and new 2nd District.
The filing period continues through Friday at 5 p.m.
The top two vote-getters in the Aug. 7 primary advance to the Nov. 6 general election regardless of party.
Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
