By Jerry Cornfield | Reporter
Washington’s 5.1 million registered voters are starting to make their decisions for the Nov. 3 general election. This midterm could see Democrats tighten their grip on power in the state Legislature and retake the majority from Republicans in Congress. Voters in Washington will fill a majority of seats on the state Supreme Court and weigh in on the state’s new income tax on high-earning households.
Also in today’s edition…
The Standard’s voter guide is live with information on top races and ballot measures.
A fiery end to second Gluesenkamp Perez-Braun debate.
Oregon governor hits pause on permits to build or expand data centers.
News tips, feedback, questions? Email us: [email protected]
(Getty Images)
By Jerry Cornfield
Several counties began mailing ballots last week, well ahead of the Oct. 16 deadline to do so. State and county election officers are hoping voters will return their ballots, preferably by depositing them in one of Washington’s 594 designated drop boxes or casting them at one of 61 voting centers.
They’re cautioning folks about relying on the U.S. Postal Service to make sure their ballot is in. A recent rule change by the postal service does not guarantee ballots sent through the mail will be postmarked on the day they are put in the mail box. More than 20,000 cast in the August primary were rejected because they came in too late.
It’s a busy election. In the Legislature, all 98 House seats and 24 of 49 Senate seats are on ballots. Five of the nine state Supreme Court positions will be filled too.
The Washington State Standard’s voter guide is one source we hope will provide useful information. It contains responses to our surveys from all candidates for the Supreme Court as well as for 34 of the most competitive legislative contests and two races for U.S. House seats.
Readers will also find short explainers of the three statewide initiatives dealing with Washington’s new income tax on high earners, parental rights of public school students and transgender students’ participation in school sports.
By Jerry Cornfield
Moments after U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Republican state Sen. John Braun concluded their debate Tuesday night, he walked over and told her that he felt she had “no soul.” She did not reply.
Braun’s strong words stem from Gluesenkamp Perez’s latest ad featuring the son of an employee of Braun’s company who died in a workplace accident. In the ad, the son says Braun didn't call. In the debate, Braun said he spoke with the son twice.
Gluesenkamp Perez, in the debate, said the family is owed an apology which drew a sharp rebuke from Braun.
The brief flare-up came after the two candidates vying in the 3rd Congressional District fenced on federal issues and social policies for nearly an hour.
By Alex Baumhardt
Oregon’s governor has effectively issued a moratorium on new data centers and data center expansions in the state by ordering environmental regulators to pause approving new state and federal air and water pollution permits for data center projects until next July.
ICYMI
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