It’s primary election day in WA. Here’s what you need to know.

Washington voters on Tuesday will start to winnow the competition in hundreds of local, state and federal races in this busy election cycle.

All 98 seats in the state House and 24 in the Senate are up for grabs, as Democrats seek to widen their majorities in each chamber and Republicans hope to claw back seats. There are numerous open seats as members have left the Legislature, so there will be new lawmakers in Olympia for the next legislative session beginning in January. 

And a number of incumbents are trying to fend off challengers, including from their own party. 

For instance, state Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, faces activist Hannah Sabio-Howell running to his left. Pedersen has been the target of mailers ahead of the primary funded by rich conservatives stoking frustration with the legislative leader after he shepherded the state’s new income tax on high earners. Republicans don’t have a chance of flipping the seat representing ultra-liberal Seattle neighborhoods.

Meanwhile, in central Washington, Rep. Mike Steele, R-Chelan, faces Republican pastor Adam James, among the most prolific campaign fundraisers of this election season. 

All 10 of Washington’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are on the ballot, as well. Most of the incumbents are expected to sail to reelection, but a few races are notable. 

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez’s reelection bid could factor into the balance of power in Congress. The Democrat in southwest Washington’s 3rd Congressional District is vying for a third term. She will have to hold off a big field of candidates, namely state Senate Minority Leader John Braun, who is a Republican, and fellow Democrat Brent Hennrich, who is running to her left. 

Rep. Dan Newhouse’s retirement in central Washington’s 4th Congressional District has drawn nearly a dozen hopefuls for the safely Republican seat, including his 2024 opponent, Jerrod Sessler, Yakima County Commissioner Amanda McKinney and state Sen. Matt Boehnke.

And Tuesday’s primary will reveal if far-left former Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant’s insurgent bid to unseat longtime Rep. Adam Smith has a shot in the 9th Congressional District, which extends south from Seattle.

Every voter will weigh in on four state Supreme Court races, as the high court faces heavy turnover. Two will serve as the first electoral tests for Gov. Bob Ferguson appointees, Colleen Melody and Theo Angelis. Another will fill a vacant seat for a departing justice. And Chief Justice Debra Stephens faces multiple challengers. A fifth position will be on the November ballot, with only two candidates running.

Supreme Court elections often pass by without much attention, but this year is expected to be different. All eyes are on the court ahead of an expected legal fight over the “millionaires’ tax” that’s sure to end up before the justices.

The top two candidates in each race advance to the Nov. 3 general election.

As of Monday night, just over 1 million of Washington’s 5.1 million registered voters had returned their ballots, for a 19.9% turnout. King County has among the lowest turnout so far, while Garfield, Jefferson and Wahkiakum counties, which have far fewer residents, are leading the way. When it’s all said and done, participation could sit around 40%, if past midterm primaries are an indicator. 

Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday, or turned into one of the state’s numerous ballot drop boxes or election centers by 8 p.m., to count. A map of drop boxes and voting centers can be found here. 

Procrastinating? Information on candidates running for all levels of office can be found in the official online voters’ pamphlets for the state and counties. In all, 688 elected offices and 80 local measures are on the ballot in the 2026 primary. There are 1,334 candidates running.

If mailing in, given less frequent pickups from the U.S. Postal Service, election officials recommended sending ballots in at least a week before Election Day to ensure they’d be tabulated. 

Voters can track their ballots online at VoteWA.gov, and can get text alerts about the status of their ballots there or by texting “VOTE” to 868392.

Initial results are expected to drop just after 8 p.m. County election offices and the secretary of state will post early tallies online. Results can shift as more votes are counted in the coming days in Washington’s mail-ballot system. The secretary of state has to certify results by Aug. 21.