State Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, speaks during the Lewis County Economic Development Council's luncheon on April 15, 2016 in Chehalis. Braun, the chief GOP budget writer, intends to find the $1.4 billion in the two-year budget cycle to supplement education funding. Under the Republican plan, the state would collect new, local property-tax levies for schools, which would be set at a uniform rate statewide and not be subject to voter approval.
There are no contested races for the 20th Legislative District, which serves Lewis, Thurston, Clark and Cowlitz counties.
Three incumbents filed for three different positions.
Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, filed for re-election as state senator, while Rep. Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis, and Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, filed for state representative Positions 1 and 2, respectively.
All three currently serve the 20th Legislative District.
As for the 19th Legislative District, every race is contested, with up to five candidates filing for one position.
Incumbent Dean Takko and challenger Sue Kuehl Pederson filed for state senator.
A plethora of candidates filed for state representative Position 1 with incumbent JD Rossetti, Jim Walsh, Val (Halleck) Tinney, Teresa Purcell and Tim Sutinen all filing last week.
There is a three-person race for state representative Position 2 where Jimi O’Hagan, incumbent Brian Blake and Butch Stavrum filed.
The top two candidates in the primary election will move on to the November general election.
