Community Government

Pierce County Council post coming down to Lykins, Solan

Chuck West fell out of the running for a Pierce County Council seat, according to primary election night results. Should early returns hold up, Brenda Lykins and Mike Solan will compete in the Nov. 3 general election to succeed Robyn Denson as the District 7 representative.

The county council race was one of four that drew more than two contenders and needed to be whittled down in the primary election — two state House of Representatives contests and a Sixth Congressional District seat.

Denson announced in March she would not be running for a second term to represent Gig Harbor, the Key Peninsula and parts of north and west Tacoma. Democrat Lykins led the contest to replace her Tuesday with 56.8% of the votes (17,303 votes), according to the Washington State Secretary of State Office. The neonatal nurse practitioner serves on the Pierce County Charter Review Commission. She had been a Gig Harbor City Council member until moving last year to north Tacoma.

Republican Solan finished second Tuesday with 29.5% of the votes (8,980). The Seattle police officer and former president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild was originally ruled ineligible to run because he didn’t register to vote in Pierce County until March. The county charter requires at least a year before. The Gig Harbor-area resident sued and was restored to the ballot by the Pierce County Elections Office after a judge ruled that the voter registration requirement is excessive. Solan’s platform prioritizes increasing the number of sheriffs deputies, particularly in rural areas.

West, who ran as a nonpartisan candidate, was third with 11.4% of the votes (3,459). West is a Peninsula School Board member, retired Key Peninsula Fire Department battalion chief and small business owner who lives on the Key Peninsula. He ran for the county council position in 2022 when he and three other Republicans combined to lose to Democrat Denson, 58% to 42%.

A fourth candidate, Ann E. Jolie, appeared on the ballot. Once Solan filed, however, she encouraged voters to support him. She submitted no information for the voters pamphlet and stated there that she’s not actively running. She still received 2.3% of the vote (689).

Congress

U.S. Rep. Emily Randall, D-Bremerton, drew four challengers in her bid for a second term representing Washington’s Sixth District in Congress. The former state senator succeeded Derek Kilmer, who retired in January 2025. The district spans the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas and a portion of Tacoma.

Randall advanced to the general election with 60.2% of the vote (74,078 votes). She’ll be joined by Republican Teresa Fox, a Bremerton businesswoman who garnered 25.1% (29,626). Falling out of contention were Trump Republican Leon Lawson with 9.3% (11,462), independent Brian P. O’Gorman with 3.1% (3,762) and independent Macy Jones with 2.2% (2,707).

State Legislature

Freshman incumbent Adison Richards and longtime Peninsula School District board member David Olson will vie for the 26th Legislative District’s Position 1 House seat. Republican Olson, who has served on the school board for 13 years, topped the primary night voting with 43.4% (13,577) as Richards and Natalie Bornfleth split Democratic votes. The retired Navy diver ran for state superintendent of public instruction two years ago, advancing to the general election before losing to incumbent Chris Reykdal.

Richards, D-Gig Harbor, received 35.2% (11,009). The Peninsula High School graduate works as a nonprofit attorney. Bornfleth, a Port Orchard teacher, was eliminated with 21.3% (6,657). She has also worked as an Air Force logistics officer and a Puget Sound Naval Shipyard pipefitter.

Democrat Renee Hernandez Greenfield and Republican Katy Cornell will continue their efforts to replace Michelle Valdez. Valdez (formerly Caldier) announced in February she would not be seeking a seventh term in the position.

Cornell, who leads a Belfair-based Christian nonprofit, topped voting Tuesday with 44.3% (13,813). Greenfield, who works as a development specialist at Holly Ridge Center, possibly split Democratic votes with Ted Wetherbee. Greenfield received 39.9% of the vote (12m430). Falling out of the race were Wetherbee, who runs a recreational marijuana business, with 13.3% (4,154), and Randy Phillips, a recent Tacoma Community College graduate and student leader, with 2.4% (754).

The 26th District comprises Gig Harbor, the Key Peninsula, Port Orchard and part of Bremerton. It is one of the state’s only districts that swings between Republicans and Democrats.

Though only two candidates filed to run for the 26th District Senate position, state law requires the race to be on the primary ballot. The results shined light on how voters view incumbent Deb Krishnadasan and challenger Gary Parker. Krishnadasan, a Gig Harbor Democrat, captured 56.7% (17,773) of the vote to 43.3% (13,581) for Republican Parker.

Krishnadasan is seeking election to her first full four-year term. Pierce and Kitsap county leaders appointed her to the position in 2024 to fill a vacancy left when Randall won election to Congress. Krishnadasan earned another one-year term in a 2025 special election. She previously served on the Peninsula School Board.

Parker, also of Gig Harbor, is a philanthropist and retired engineer who owns the popular restaurant BBQ2U. He ran unsuccessfully for Pierce County’s charter review board.

2026 Primary Election Results

6th Congressional District U.S. Representative

Emily Randall 60.2% 74,078 votes
Brian P. O’Gorman 3.1% 3,762 votes
Teresa Fox 25.1% 30,892 votes
Macy Jones 2.2% 2,707 votes
Leon Lawson 9.3% 11,462 votes

State Legislature

26th District Senator
Deborah Krishnadasan 56.7% 17,773 votes
Gary Parker 43.3% 13,581 votes

26th District Representative Pos. 1
David Olson 43.4% 13,577 votes
Natalie Bornfleth 21.3% 6,657 votes
Adison Richards 35.2% 11,009 votes

26th District Representative Pos. 2
Randy Phillips 2.4% 754 votes
Tedd Wetherbee 13.3% 4,154 votes
Renee Hernandez Greenfield 39.9% 12,430 votes
Katy Cornell 44.3% 13,813 votes

Pierce County Council District 7

Chuck West 11.4% 3,459 votes
Brenda Lykins 56.8% 17,303 votes
Mike Solan 29.5% 8,980 votes
Ann E. Jolie 2.3% 689 votes