Community Government
Krishnadasan leads in 26th District; city voters rejecting Cultural Access tax
Voters in the 26th Legislative District appear set to return Deb Krishnadasan to the state Senate.
Krishnadasan, D-Gig Harbor, leads Rep. Michelle Caldier, R-Gig Harbor, in early ballot returns posted Tuesday, Nov. 4, by the Washington Secretary of State’s Office. Krishnadasan received 52.66% of the vote to Caldier’s 47.26%.
Other early results show Gig Harbor voters rejecting a sales tax proposition to support arts, science and culture nonprofits. Of 3,594 votes tallied so far, 56.26% voted no.
Gig Harbor voters also opted to give Mary Barber (83.94% of the vote) a full term as mayor, instead of Chris Haywood (15.35%).
In the city’s two contested council races, Emily Stone (63.34%) leads Jeni Woock (36.55%) for Position 3, while Patrick Ammann (53.48%) leads Stephen McDuffie (46.40%) for Position 2.
Leading for posts on the Pierce County Charter Review Commission representing Pierce County Council District 7 are: Brenda Lykins (57%) over Gary Parker (42.86%); Martha Lantz (58.93%) over Jesse L. Young (40.94%); and Justin Leighton (56.86%) over Pat McMonigle (43.02%).
26th District
The Pierce County Council and Kitsap County commissioners appointed Krishnadasan in December 2024 to fill in for Emily Randall, who won election to the U.S. House. As an appointed state senator, Krishnadasan had to face voters to keep her seat.
She appears to have done so, despite a strong challenge from longtime state representative Caldier.
The race was perhaps the highest-profile legislative election in Washington state in 2025, with Republicans viewing it as a chance to pick up a seat. Among all election contests this year in Washington, only the races for Seattle mayor and King County executive saw more political spending.
The seat will be back on the ballot in November 2026, at the conclusion of the term to which Randall was elected in 2022.
Elections officials will post updated results around 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5.
City of Gig Harbor
Proposition 1 (Cultural Access sales tax)
Yes: 43.74% (1,572 votes)
No: 56.26% (2,022)
Mayor
Mary Barber: 83.94% (2,937)
Chris Haywood: 15.35% (537)
City Council Position No. 1
Loretto Tessicini: 97.18% (2,342)
City Council Position No. 2
Patrick Ammann: 53.48% (1,813)
Stephen McDuffie: 46.40 (1,573)
City Council Position No. 3
Emily Stone: 63.34% (2,237)
Jeni Woock: 36.55% (1,291)
City Council Position No. 4
Julie Martin: 87.72% (2,879)
Dan Wright: 11.70% (384)
Gig Harbor City Council Position No. 7
Reid Ekberg: 98.98% (2,725)
Pierce County Charter Review Commission
District 7, Position 1
Justin Leighton: 56.86% (16,558)
Pat McMonigle: 43.02% (12,529)
District 7, Position 2
Brenda Lykins: 57.0% (16,650)
Gary Parker: 42.86% (12,519)
District 7, Position 3
Martha Lantz: 58.93% (17,675)
Jesse Young: 40.94% (12,278)
Peninsula School Board
Position No. 2
Matthew Bruhn: 50.95% (8,799)
Emily DuCharme: 48.70% (8,410)
Position No. 5
Jonathan Appleton: 42.93% (7,829)
Davis Olson: 55.95% (9,971)
PenMet Parks Board
Position 1
Kurt Grimmer: 98.71% (8,089)
Position 4
Laurel Kingsbury: 71.34% (7,068)
Jesse Rawley: 28.38% (2,812)
Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One
Position 1
Joe Urvina: 99.11% (10,750)
Position 4
Phil Hayden: 68.67% (8,600)
Thomas Lemoine: 31.08% (3,892)
