We want to thank all of our candidates, legislative district organizers, volunteers, and donors for getting us to the halfway point. It truly is a team production to field a slate of candidates. With King County’s overall voter turnout sitting at just 22%, every single door knocked and postcard sent made a difference.

While most of our candidates will advance to the general election, a few races are still too close to call. (Results are based on the Wednesday, August 5th update.)

If you found yourself sharing the common sentiment, “I wish I had a Republican to vote for,” we feel your pain. Don’t just sit on the sidelines! Call our Recruitment Hotline at (425) 679-6578 right now, and we will personally coach you on how to get in fighting shape for 2027 or 2028 races.
 

KCGOP Support

KCGOP kept at full pace this cycle, supporting candidates in every district that had them. We offered mentorship, technical support, portrait photography, and social media video production. We mailed out thousands of postcards and introduced a new texting outreach program, sending more than 180,000 text messages. Our Legislative District teams were the boots on the ground, representing us at parades, fairs, and community events across the county. LD 47 even produced its own slate commercial for over-the-top placements (ads run on streaming and online platforms).

Election Highlights

• Supreme Court Surge: Excellent candidates for the state Supreme Court will make it to the general election. With hot conservative initiatives on the November ballot, these judicial races are sure to draw a massive turnout.

• Strong Performers: Michelle Bennett secured 43% of the vote for LD 5 Representative (position 1) while Patrick Peacock is close with 42% for his LD 5 Representative race. Over in LD 47, Kristina Soltys captured a very competitive 41% in the State Senator race. They are all in good stead to pull ahead in November.

• Basler Bested Sawant: Doug Basler blew away the competition with his creative, Pratt-inspired media campaign for U.S. Congressional District 9. Five videos went up on social media, and played on all the over-the-top placements he could get. His effort paid off: Basler cruised into second place with 24% of the vote, securing his spot on the November ballot and shaming notorious socialist Kshama Sawant. Doug’s numbers pushed Sawant out of the race, managing only 13% of the vote. Sawant is considered by many to have been the single most toxic influence on Seattle politics during her decade on the City Council. Let’s hope she finally gets the message and stays out of politics for good. 

An informal wave of write-in votes emerged for Jimothy, the viral Ballard raccoon known for his unusually round shape from a spinal condition. Voters began listing him as a protest or joke candidate on ballots across multiple races.

Most notably, Jimothy appears to have made a dent in the LD 45 State Senate contest against incumbent Manka Dhingra, which saw a staggering 1,754 write-in votes—making up 9.50% of the total. There was no organized campaign, fundraising, or formal candidacy. Ironically, with only one candidate in that race, a write-in campaign would have successfully earned a spot on the November ballot if it were a qualified candidate. Unfortunately, Jimothy lives in Ballard, so he isn’t qualified to run in Redmond’s LD 45. Maybe next time!

Meet Yuri Marinchik: A New American Running for State Representative In LD33

Nine years ago, Yuri Marinchik won the opportunity to pursue the American Dream through the Green Card lottery. In 2017, he and his wife left Minsk, Belarus, and immigrated to the United States, beginning a new life in San Diego, California.

Like many new Americans, Yuri’s first year was anything but easy. He worked as a delivery driver and mover before earning a job installing HVAC systems—a physically demanding profession he continues today. Whether working in scorching attics or helping families restore their air conditioning, Yuri understands the value of hard work and serving his community.

In 2021, Yuri and his family made Washington State their home. Then, in 2024, they proudly became United States citizens.

Yuri knows firsthand that freedom, opportunity, and the American Dream are worth protecting because he has lived the journey to achieve them. Now, he is running for State Representative to bring a hardworking, common-sense perspective to Olympia and fight for the families and communities that make Washington such a special place to call home.

https://yuriwa.com/meet-yuri