WASHINGTON — The primary election determines which two individuals will advance to the general election, regardless of their political party affiliation. Washington has a top-two primary system in which all candidates compete on the same ballot and the two highest vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party. Any eligible voter may participate in this process.

Four Democrats are on the ballot for the 3rd Congressional District primary, including the incumbent. Three Republicans are challenging Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in the 3rd Congressional District primary. The remaining two candidates are not affiliated with either major party. The 3rd Congressional District borders Oregon to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

State Senate Minority Leader John Braun is a Republican candidate in the 3rd Congressional District primary. President Donald Trump endorsed John Braun for the 3rd Congressional District seat. Trump received a majority of the vote from 3rd District voters in the 2024 presidential election.

Eleven candidates are running to replace Dan Newhouse in the 4th Congressional District primary. Yakima County Commissioner Amanda McKinney is a Republican candidate for the 4th Congressional District seat. Trump endorsed Amanda McKinney in January 2026.

Jerrod Sessler is a Republican candidate for the 4th Congressional District seat. Jerrod Sessler is an entrepreneur and former NASCAR driver. Trump previously endorsed Jerrod Sessler's unsuccessful bid to unseat Dan Newhouse in 2024. In the 2024 presidential election, Trump received a majority of the vote in the 4th Congressional District.

About half of Washington's 49 state Senate seats are up for election in 2026. All 98 Washington state House seats are up for election in 2026. Democrats currently control about 60% of seats in each chamber of the Washington state Legislature.

Three of Washington's nine state Supreme Court justices are on the ballot in the primary election. Chief Justice Debra Stephens is on the ballot for the Washington state Supreme Court. One Washington state Supreme Court seat is open in the 2026 election.

Washington state Supreme Court seats are nonpartisan. Liberals hold a majority on the Washington state Supreme Court.

There were about 5.1 million registered voters in Washington as of July 1, 2026. About 699,000 ballots had been cast in the 2026 Washington primary as of Thursday, July 30, 2026. Historical comparisons show that about 2 million votes were cast in the 2024 Washington all-party primary for governor.

Roughly 1.9 million votes were cast in the 2022 Washington all-party U.S. Senate primary. In the 2024 Washington state primary, a majority of voters delivered their ballots to a drop box. In-person voting centers in Washington close at 8 p.m. PT on primary election day.

Machine recounts in Washington state are automatic if the vote margin between the top two candidates is less than 2,000 votes and less than 0.5% of the total votes cast for both candidates. Manual recounts are required for non-statewide races in Washington when the margin is less than 150 votes and less than 0.25% of the total votes cast for both candidates. There will be 91 days until the 2026 midterm elections as of Tuesday, August 4, 2026.

Why It Matters

Washington's top-two primary system allows any eligible voter to participate in selecting finalists for congressional, legislative, and judicial seats, regardless of party affiliation. The outcomes will determine the partisan composition of the state Legislature, where Democrats currently hold about 60% of seats, and could alter the liberal majority on the state Supreme Court. In districts with open seats or multiple incumbents facing challenges, the primary serves as the sole mechanism to narrow a large field of candidates down to two general election contenders.