UOCAVA Ballots Go Out This Week - Regular Ballots Go Out In 4 Weeks
During the recent State Committee meeting the Washington State Republican Party (WAGOP) endorsed a promising slate of ten congressional candidates, including three candidates who placed first in their primary elections on August 4th, 2026.
First-place-primary finishers include Washington State Senate Minority Leader John Braun (WA-03), Yakima County Commissioner Amanda McKinney (WA-04), and incumbent Congressman Michael Baumgartner (WA-05).
Braun received nearly 40% of the vote in his crowded primary field, finishing well ahead of Democratic incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Baumgartner handily defeated second-place challenger Carmela Conroy, a Democrat, by nearly 30 percentage points. McKinney finished first in the most crowded congressional primary this year.
“In Washington’s top-two primary system, finishing in first position is significant—especially when a primary race is crowded with candidates. A strong performance in a crowded August primary field is the best indicator of success in November’s general election,” says WAGOP Chairman Rep. Jim Walsh. “And November is when winners are decided.”
WAGOP also endorsed political newcomer and small business owner Spencer Meline (WA-8), who surprised some observers by finishing second in a crowded six-candidate primary. He will face Democrat incumbent Kim Schrier in the general election.
Congressional candidates Mary Silva (WA-1), Edwin Feller (WA-2), Teresa Fox (WA-6), Nirav Sheth (WA-7), Doug Basler (WA-9), and Chris Chung (WA-10) were also endorsed by WAGOP during the state committee meeting in mid-August.
Washingtonians have a unique opportunity to help fix what’s broken in WA by voting for ten WAGOP-endorsed congressional candidates, and five independent WAGOP recommended WA State Supreme Court justices, who will defend the Constitution and the rule of law, and by voting YES on All Three Common-Sense Initiatives: protecting girls’ sports (I-638), restoring parental rights (I-001), and repealing the state income tax (I-645.) These initiatives enjoy broad wide bi-partisan support, and they are mostly 80-20 issues.
“Baumgartner, Braun and McKinney get a lot of media attention. But all these races are worth watching. Doug Basler beat former Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant to advance in the 9th District. Spencer Meline is a new and interesting conservative voice in the 8th. And Teresa Fox and Chris Chung are running against weak incumbents in the 6th and 10th Districts, respectively,” adds Chairman Walsh. “The key in all of these congressional races is voter turnout. The more people who vote, the better all these candidates will do!
Tuesday, November 3, 2026 is Washington’s statewide general election. UOCAVA (Overseas Military) Ballots Go Out This Week and Regular Ballots Go Out In 4 Weeks. Please Remember to Vote!
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