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Familiar incumbents, new faces will be on the August primary ballot

Published 3:45 pm Monday, May 11, 2026

By Ray Miller-Still

Running in the Legislative District No. 5 Position No. 1 race is imcumbent Zach Hall and challengers Michelle Bennett, Aimee Warmerda, and Topher Leritz. Leritz is not pictured, as his campaign website was not set up by Monday, May 11.

Running in the Legislative District No. 5 Position No. 1 race is imcumbent Zach Hall and challengers Michelle Bennett, Aimee Warmerda, and Topher Leritz. Leritz is not pictured, as his campaign website was not set up by Monday, May 11.

Filing week is over, and the local political arena is once again full of familiar and new faces.

There are no local city elections this year, but there will be a seat at the Buckley City Council open with a race in November.

In Legislative District 5, incumbent Rep. Zach Hall (D-Issaquah) will be running against challengers Michelle Bennett (R), Aimee Warmerdam (D), and Topher Leritz (no party preference) for Position No. 1.

Hall was appointed to his position in 2025 from the Issaquah City Council to succeed Sen. Victoria Hunt, who was appointed to her position when former Sen. Bill Ramos died.

This will be the only race with a primary, assuming no one registers as a write-in candidate for a different race.

Vying for Pos. 2 will be incumbent Rep. Lisa Callan and challenger Patrick Peacock.

This is a repeat of the 2024 election, where they were the only two who filed for this position.

Legislative District 5 represents Enumclaw and Black Diamond. Enumclaw was previously under Legislative District No. 31 until a 2024 district boundary change in Eastern Washington altered other boundaries, moving Enumclaw from the reliably-red district to the blue stronghold.

Buckley continues to be a part of Legislative District 31.

Sen. Phil Fortunato (R-Auburn) is bank on the ballot, being challenged by Tamara Stamel (D) for the state senator seat.

Rep. Drew Stokesbary (R-Auburn) has also refiled for Pos. 1, and is being challenged by Stephen Szczurko-Walton (D).

Both have won their previous races by comfortable

Rounding out the 31st District races is incumbent Rep. Johsua Penner (R-Orting) for Pos. 2, who is being challenged by John Bielka (D).

County races of note include the race to be the King County Assessor, especially because embattled Assessor John Wilson — who has been called to step down twice by the King County Council after allegations of stalking, harassment were made public — has not refiled.

Instead, Chief Deputy Assessor Al Dams has thrown his hat into the ring.

Also vying for the position is Rob Foxcurran, a hearing examiner; Chris Roberts, a four-term Shoreline City Councilmember; and Dominique M Scarimbolo, small business owner and King County Shapter President with Citizens Alliance for Property Rights.

Current King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion and Director of Elections Julie Wise are running unopposed.

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