Here’s why 5 people already have filed for a Richland council seat
Franklin County Commissioner Clint Didier gained a challenger, and an open seat on the Richland City Council is shaping up as one of the hottest contests on the 2026 Mid-Columbia election calendar.
May 4-8 is filing week for people running for elected office this year.
The ballot features partisan races for federal, state and county offices, including Didier’s reelection campaign for his Position 3 seat on the board of commissioners.
It also includes nonpartisan races for port seats and a variety of judicial positions.
Didier, a Republican, filed for reelection on Wednesday and is being challenged by Joel Prantle, a fellow Republican.
Prantle is the owner of TJ Train Models, and was recently appointed to the Franklin County planning commission.
Richland City Council Pos. 4 is on the ballot after voters elected a candidate who died during the 2025 election cycle. The winner will complete the term voters gave to the late Donald Landsman.
The candidates include Todd Samuel, selected by the current council to serve as an interim member until the election can take place.
Samuel, a group manager at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory said he’s enjoyed his time as an appointed member and is eager to be elected.
“We want to have a government that listens to us and cares about us,” said Samuel, who was selected from a field of 23 applicants in January.
Samuel is currently set to square off against Kyle Saltz, David Tveraas, Ragan Faylor and Mary Lipton in the August primary, though additional candidates could still file. The top two will advance to the general election in November.
Saltz previously ran for city council in 2025, spending much of the campaign season running next to the man he hopes to succeed, Landsman. He lost a close race to incumbent Kurt Maier.
Saltz, a military veteran who works for the Hanford Patrol and various veteran causes as well as the Army Reserve, said he jumped back in out of respect for his friend.
“He stood for integrity, accountability, leadership,” Saltz said. “This is for Donald’s legacy.”
Ragan Faylor is a lifelong resident of Eastern Washington who has lived in Richland for eight years. He owns a real estate appraisal business and has served on the city’s code enforcement board and as an animal control officer.
He took on the latter role after volunteering to help at Tri-Cities Animal Control during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the city of Pasco seized control amid management issues.
Faylor said his experience with animal control and code enforcement have given him strong insights into city government that dovetail with his interest in politics.
He said he is running to represent his fellow “average Joes.”
Lipton is a bioanalytic chemist at the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland. She serves as an adjunct professor at WSU Tri-Cities as well.
A 30+ year resident of Richland, Lipton said she has the time and energy to serve now that her kids are grown.
“Richland is walking a fine line between growth and maintaining its identity” she said. She said she favors a balanced approach and lots of debate as Richland attracts newcomers, including industry.
“I want to be part of the decision-making process that looks at a balanced approach,” she said.
Tveraas did not give a phone number on his filing application and could not be reached by email.
Federal and state offices
U.S. House Washington 4th District
- Amanda McKinney, Republican
- Matt Boehnke, Republican
- John Duresky, Democrat
- Jacek “Jack” Kobiesa, no party preference
- Jerrod Sessler, Republican
U.S. House Washington 5th District
- Michael Baumgartner (incumbent), Republican
- Carmela Conroy, Democrat
- David Womack, Democrat
- Matthew Hayes, independent
- Nate Powell, no party preference
- Ann Marie Danimus, independent
- Bajun Mavalwalla, Democrat
Washington Legislature — District 8
State Rep. Position 1
- Stephanie Barnard (incumbent), Republican
State Rep. Position 2
- Stephanie Barnard (incumbent), Republican
State Senator
- Gabe Galbraith, Republican
- Nikki Torres, Republican
Washington Legislature — District 14
State Rep. Position 1
- Chelsea Dimas, Democrat
- Gloria Mendoza (incumbent), Republican
State Rep. Position 2
- Deb Manjarrez (incumbent), Republican
- Ezequiel Morfin, Democrat
- Tony Sandoval, Democrat
Washington Legislature — District 15
State Rep. Position 1
- Chris Corry (incumbent), Republican
State Rep. Position 2
- Reedy Berg, Republican
- Liz Hallock, No Kings Party
- Chase Foster, Republican
State Senator
- Jeremie Dufault, Republican
Washington Legislature — District 16
State Rep. Position 1
- Mark Klicker (incumbent), Republican
State Rep. Position 2
- Skyler Rude (incumbent), Republican
- Derek Sarley, Democrat
Washington Supreme Court
Justice Position 1
- Colleen Melody (incumbent)
- Scott Edwards
- Laura Christensen Colberg
Justice Position 3
- Jaime Michelle Hawk
- Mike Diaz
- David Stevens
Justice Position 4
- Ian Birk
- Sean O’Donnell
Justice Position 5
- Theo Angelis (incumbent)
- Sharonda Amamilo
- Dave Larson
Justice Position 7
- Debra Stephens (incumbent)
Court of Appeals, Division 3, District 2
Judge Position 1
- Tyson Hill (incumbent)
Benton County
Assessor
- Bill Spencer (incumbent), Republican
Auditor
- Brenda Chilton (incumbent), Republican
Board of County Commission, District No. 2
- Michael Alvarez (incumbent), Republican
Clerk
- Josie Delvin (incumbent), Republican
Coroner
- William “Bill” Leach (incumbent), Republican
Prosecuting Attorney
- Eric Eisinger (incumbent), Republican
- Julie Long, Republican
Sheriff
- Michael Clark (incumbent), Republican
Treasurer
- Kenneth Spencer Jr. (incumbent), Republican
District Court Judge 1
- Michael “Mike” Rio
District Court Judge 2
- James “Jim” Bell (incumbent)
District Court Judge 3
- Dan Kathren (incumbent)
District Court Judge 5
- Jennifer Azure (incumbent)
Public Utility District, Commissioner Pos. 2
- Micah Valentine
Richland City Council, Position 4 (nonpartisan)
- Todd Samuel (appointed)
- David Tveraas
- Kyle Saltz
- Ragan Faylor
- Mary Lipton
Franklin County
Franklin County Assessor
- John Rosenau (incumbent), Republican
- Chris Hollingsworth, Republican
Auditor
- Matt Beaton (incumbent), Republican
Clerk
- Ruby Ochoa, Republican
Coroner
- Curtis McGary, Republican (incumbent)
County Commission District 3
- Joel Prantle, Republican
- Clint Didier, (incumbent), Republican
Prosecuting Attorney
- Shawn Sant, (incumbent), Republican
Sheriff
- Christopher Lee, Republican
- Monty Huber, Republican
- Kohl St. Peter, independent
Treasurer
- Josie Koelzer (incumbent), Republican
District Court Judge
- Trinity Orosco (incumbent)
Port of Pasco, Commissioner District No. 3
- Hans-Joachim Engelke (incumbent)
Public Utility District, District No. 2
- Tim Nies