Republican candidates sweep WA state House and Senate seats in Southeast Washington
READ MORE
Tri-Cities 2024 Presidential Election Night Results
Expand All
Republican candidates swept the field in Southeast Washington, as the latest tallies showed voters returning incumbents to Olympia and choosing conservatives for vacant posts in the state Legislature.
The Tri-Cities is split among four legislative districts, with each sending two representatives and a senator to the state house.
Leg District 14
The district covers parts of unincorporated Benton County including Finley, the Lower Yakima Valley and Goldendale. The senate seat and both house seats were on the ballot and the 14th was one of the hottest districts in the 2024 election.
The majority-Hispanic district was redrawn in a contentious process that angered Republicans but attracted new energy, new candidates and new cash.
On the eve of the election, the Washington State Republican Party sent text messages to Spanish-speaking voters alleging the three Latina Democrats running for office in the 14th wanted to “eliminate the Spanish language” and “support the chemical castration of your children in school without your knowledge or consent,” among other disputed complaints.
Senate Republican Curtis King, the incumbent, defeated Democratic challenger Maria Beltran, 10,539 to 8,641, or 55% to 45%, in one of the closest-watched races for the Washington Legislature this year. The two Yakima residents raised more than $1 million in campaign contributions.
King, a business owner who had to move in order to win another term, won a fifth term running on his record as a pragmatist. Beltran campaigned on affordable housing, healthcare access and fighting for laborers.
House Pos. 1: Republican Gloria Mendoza, defeated Democrat Chelsea Dimas, with 10,631 votes to 8,262, or 56% to 43%.
Mendoza, a former Grandview mayor and council member, is a former farmworker who established a business focused on vocational training. She ran as a conservative focused on individual rights, family values and taxes.
Dimas, who had no prior elected experience, ran as advocate for affordable housing, public safety and economic opportunity for all residents.
House Pos 2: Republican Deb Manjarrez, defeated Democrat Ana Ruiz Kennedy of Pasco, with 10,141 votes to 8,842, or 53% to 46%.
Manjarrez is an accountant and orchardist who ran on her experience managing budgets. Kennedy was the only Tri-Cities candidate and ran on her background in community and business, including her experience serving on the Washington Commission on Hispanic Affairs.
Leg District 16
The sprawling district, which covers parts of Richland and West Richland, North Franklin County and Walla Walla reelected its three Republican incumbents.
Senate: Republican Perry Dozier, the incumbent, defeated his Democratic challenger Kari Isaacson, 29,405 votes to 16,258, or 64% to 36%.
House Pos. 1: Republican Mark Klicker, the incumbent, defeated Democratic challenger Linda Gunshefski, 29,786 votes to 15,900, or 65% to 35%.
House Pos. 2: Republican Skyler Rude, the incumbent, defeated Democratic challenger Craig R. Woodard, 30,298 votes to 15,155, or 67% to 33%.
Leg District 8
Voters in the district covering Kennewick and parts of Pasco, West Richland and Prosser, returned two Republican incumbents to office. The senate seat, held by Matt Boehnke, was not up for election.
House Pos. 1: Republican Stephanie Barnard, was unopposed and and received 41,721 votes or 97% of those cast.
House Pos. 2: Republican April Connors, the incumbent, defeated Democratic challenger John Christenson, 36,936 votes to 15,227, or 71% to 29%.
Leg District 15
Sen. Nikki Torres was not up for election in 2024. The two House positions, formerly held by Bruce Chandler and Bryan Sandlin, were open.
House Pos. 1: Republican Chris Corry, defeated independent Chase Foster, 30,952 votes to 11,375, or 73% to 27%.
House Pos 2: Republican Jeremie Dufault defeated Republican Rich Bright, 29,571 votes to 10,565, or 72% to 26%.
This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 9:10 PM.
