Washington Holds Primary for 5.1 Million Voters as Spokane Wildfires Force 67,000 Evacuations
Updated
Updated · PBS NewsHour · Aug 4
Washington Holds Primary for 5.1 Million Voters as Spokane Wildfires Force 67,000 Evacuations
3 articles · Updated · PBS NewsHour · Aug 4
Summary
Washington voters headed into Tuesday’s mail-heavy primary while Spokane remained under a state of emergency, with officials telling residents in fire-hit areas to verify ballot receipt online or request replacements.
67,000 people in the Spokane area are under evacuation orders, and one ballot drop box in the evacuation zone will close after remaining ballots are collected; ballots must be postmarked or returned by 8 p.m. local time.
780,000 ballots had already been cast by Friday in an election covering U.S. House, state legislative and state Supreme Court races, with incumbents seeking reelection in nine of the state’s 10 congressional districts.
The highest-profile House contests include Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez defending the Trump-leaning 3rd District and an 11-candidate Republican-heavy race to replace retiring Rep. Dan Newhouse in the 4th.
Washington’s top-two system sends the two highest finishers to November regardless of party, leaving 91 days until the 2026 midterm election.