Community Government
Krishnadasan overtakes Caldier in 26th District Senate primary
Incumbent Democrat Deb Krishnadasan overtook Rep. Michelle Caldier, R-Gig Harbor, in updated vote totals in the race for the state Senate seat representing the 26th Legislative District.
Krishnadasan, D-Gig Harbor, leads by 869 votes after the Secretary of State’s office posted updated results on Thursday, Aug. 6. Caldier led by 89 votes on election night.
Krishnadasan, appointed to replace Emily Randall after her election to Congress, has 50.91% of the vote to Caldier’s 48.91. The next update is expected around 4 p.m. Friday.
Both candidates will advance to the Nov. 4 general election.
Deb Krishnadasan, left, and Michelle Caldier
County breakdown
Krishnadasan leads in both counties that make up the 26th District, though more narrowly in Pierce County. She has 49.95% of the vote in Gig Harbor and the Key Peninsula, with Caldier earning 49.9%. Krishnadasan leads with 51.98% in the Kitsap County part of the district, which includes Port Orchard and parts of Bremerton.
Krishnadasan is a former Peninsula School Board member. Caldier has won election as a state representative in the 26th six times and formerly lived in Port Orchard.
The 26th District is one of the few true swing districts in Washington, with legislators from both parties represented in Olympia. The parties and independent groups are spending heavily on the off-year Senate election, with Republicans seeing a chance to cut into the Democrats’ 30-19 advantage in the chamber.
Charter Review Commission
Updated vote totals changed little in the contests for three seats on the Pierce County Charter Review Commission.
The commission is elected once a decade to analyze the charter and suggest changes or amendments. If the commission recommends any changes, voters would have the final say.
The top two candidates from each of three positions representing Council District 7 advance to the general.
Position 1
Justin Leighton: 11,882 votes, 33.18%
Pat McMonigle: 6,260 votes, 17.48%
David Seago: 5,699 votes, 15.91%
Gary Wescott: 4,778 votes, 13.34%
Stacie Snuffin: 3,561 votes, 9.94%
Randy Boss: 2,459 votes, 6.87%
Jerry Thorpe: 1,115 votes, 3.11%
Position 2
Brenda Lykins: 20,162 votes, 57.8%
Gary Parker: 12,2336 votes, 35.08%
David Moylan: 2,413 votes, 6.92%
Position 3
Martha Lantz: 14,332 votes, 40.26%
Jesse L. Young: 11,788 votes, 33.12%
Julie A. Murray: 6,281 votes, 17.65%
Damon Townsend: 3,133 votes, 8.8%
In the race for position No. 4 on the Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One commission, Phil Hayden (9,047 votes, 60.92%) and Thomas Lemoine (4,161, 28.01) will advance to the general. Weston King received 1,620 votes (10.91%).