Arrest made in suspected political 'stalking’ of Tri-City senator’s daughter
A 21-year-old Kennewick man was arrested and booked into the Franklin County jail for a suspected politically-motivated stalking of state Sen. Nikki Torres’ adult daughter.
Torres told the Herald her 26-year-old daughter saw Trevor Delorme outside her Pasco home and called police on April 30. His vehicle had been spotted outside the family’s home several times over three days leading up to his arrest.
Her daughter has since obtained a no-contact order from a judge to keep Delorme from getting near their home, and the Torres family wants prosecutors to charge him.
Pasco Police Lt. Thomas Groom told the Herald his agency is limited on what information they can disclose because they are still investigating the incident.
Delorme was likely trying to gather evidence to challenge Sen. Torres’ voter registration and to invalidate her candidacy for public office, according to June 16 public comment at the Franklin County commissioners meeting about the incident.
Candidates running for seats in the Washington Legislature must reside and be an eligible voter within the district where they are running.
Torres is campaigning to fill the state Senate seat in Washington’s 8th Legislative District, which includes west Pasco, Kennewick, south Richland and parts of West Richland. The Pasco Republican will face Gabe Galbraith, also a Republican, later this year.
She moved across town earlier this year to a home on Road 64 in Pasco to be eligible to run for the seat after a redistricting battle in federal court changed the boundaries, drawing her out of the 15th Legislative District that she has represented since 2023.
While she’s lived in Pasco for about 45 years, it’s the second time she’s moved to run for political office.
Torres previously changed her voter registration in 2022 to an address just north of the Pasco city limits in order to run for the 15th District’s Senate seat. That decision drew controversy after the incumbent, Jim Honeyford, withdrew his name at the last minute. Torres was on the Pasco City Council at the time.
The home Delorme was allegedly seen lurking outside of is owned by Torres, but she says she does not live there.
Torres called the whole ordeal “shameful.”
“Honestly, it’s very worrisome that they were stalking my daughter, taking pictures and video of my granddaughter, who is only 6,” she said.
The Tri-City Herald reached out to Delorme on Tuesday about his arrest but did not get a response.
Torres voter registration challenge
Torres’ movement to stay office-eligible has raised fresh scrutiny.
Pasco resident Richard Weiss has formally filed a challenge to Torres’ voter registration, claiming she does not live on Road 64 and instead lives at the home occupied by her daughter.
His report was filed with the county auditor’s office a week after Delorme’s arrest.
“Given the frequency of address changes and public statements regarding her residence, questions have arisen as to whether she permanently resides within the 8th Legislative District or is utilizing a temporary address to meet candidacy requirements,” Weiss wrote in his May 6 challenge.
“This pattern raises legitimate concerns regarding residency consistency and whether the address being used for candidacy purposes accurately reflects her true, permanent place of residence,” he continued.
The complaint notes that Torres has made several statements and filed several forms with the PDC pertaining to possible campaigns to run in the 15th, 16th or 8th legislative districts.
Torres responded to the challenge with a sworn declaration that she lives at a home on Road 64, and that she changed her voter registration on Feb. 15.
Her driver’s license, vehicle registration and paperwork with the Washington Senate Secretary’s Office have all been updated to reflect the change of address. She said she also took part in the Pasco School District’s April special election from that address.
Franklin County Auditor Matt Beaton said his office is currently reviewing the ballot challenge, and the process is under legal review due to recent changes in Washington state law.
The complaint had to be made at least 45 days before the election and has to be resolved 10 days before the election. The result could determine whether Torres is eligible to run in the 8th Legislative District.
