Sen. Nikki Torres announces run in 8th legislative district following redistricting
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sen. Nikki Torres will run in the 8th District after 2024 court-ordered redistricting.
- Torres has raised $15,250 vs. Rep. Dufault's $236,470, per PDC.
- 8th District field expands as Sen. Matt Boehnke runs for U.S. House.
State Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, announced Thursday that she will run for the state Senate in the 8th Legislative District, after serving in 15th District since 2023.
Her move was brought about by the redrawing of Central Washington’s legislative districts in 2024 after a federal judge found that the previous boundaries hurt Latino and Hispanic voters’ opportunities to elect their preferred candidates. She has criticized the court’s decision and redrawing of the maps.
“As many are aware, a court-ordered redistricting process has created uncertainty and forced difficult decisions about future representation in the Washington State Senate,” Torres said in a news release.
The new 15th District includes the northern part of Yakima County, including Selah, Zillah, Terrace Heights and West Yakima, and Prosser.
Torres would have needed to move to run in the 15th District. State Rep. Jeremie Dufault, R-Selah, announced plans to run for the Senate seat last March. He has raised $236,470 compared to Torres’ $15,250, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission.
Dufault said it was unfortunate Torres was cut out her district, adding that it happened to him in his House district four years ago. He said he wishes her the best.
As for his future efforts, “I’m not taking anything for granted,” he said. “I will continue to work hard to earn the support of Yakima Valley voters.”
Torres said she has worked to serve the Tri-Cities area, bringing a collaborative approach to support public safety, affordability, and protecting agricultural and energy jobs and hopes to continue that work in the 8th District.
The current senator in the 8th District, Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, announced Thursday that he will run for the U.S. House seat now held by Rep. Dan Newhouse. Newhouse is not running for reelection. Boehnke previously announced an exploratory committee for the seat.
Republican Gabe Galbraith, who is the Kennewick school board president, also is running for the 8th District state Senate seat. He had strong words for Torres’ decision in a statement.
“This seat, left vacant by the honorable Matt Boehnke, is not an Indeed job application for career politicians looking for their next landing spot. It belongs to the people,” he said.
Other candidates for the Newhouse seat are Republicans Amanda McKinney of Yakima, Jerrod Sessler of Prosser and Wesley Meier of Richland; Democrat John Duresky of West Richland; and independent Devin Poore.
Questen Inghram, covering the Lower Yakima Valley for the Yakima Herald-Republic, is with the Washington State Murrow Fellowships, a local news program supported by state legislators.