Primary ballots will be out in days. Learn about these 3 packed Central WA races

Tri-City voters will get to hear from candidates running in some of the most competitive Central Washington races in the coming days.

The League of Women Voters of Benton and Franklin Counties and Northwest Public Broadcasting will air primary candidate forums for Washington’s 4th Congressional District on Tuesday, July 16, and the 14th Legislative District on Wednesday, July 17, on KTNW TV.

These interviews will also be available for rebroadcast on YouTube, the League’s website and on Richland and Pasco city TV stations.

The primary election is Tuesday, Aug. 6. The top two vote recipients during this election will move on to the general election on Nov. 5.

Local county auditor offices will begin mailing out ballots on July 19. The deadline for online or mail-in voter registration is July 29.

Beverly Johnson-Torelli, a member of the Benton-Franklin League, said they’re encouraging voters to get engaged and educated on candidates running for public office this year.

“We’re really excited to present these broadcasts to the public so that they can be informed voters,” she said.

The League invited all candidates running in the three races to participate, but not all took them up on the offer.

The following candidates running in the 4th Congressional District chose to participate in the forum:

• Mary Baechler of Zillah, a Democrat.
• Jerrod Sessler of Prosser, a Republican.
• Benny Garcia of Grandview, an independent.
• Barry Knowles of Yakima, a Democrat.

Altogether, seven candidates are running to oust five-term incumbent Dan Newhouse , some for his 2021 vote to impeach former President Donald Trump over his role in fomenting the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Absent from the forum are Newhouse, Republican Tiffany Smiley , Democrat Jane “Birdie” Muchlinski and MAGA Democrat John Malan .

The 4th Congressional District encompasses central Washington, stretching from the U.S.-Canada border down to the Columbia River valley. It includes Omak, East Wenatchee, Moses Lake, Yakima, the Yakama Indian Reservation and the Tri-Cities.

The following candidates running for the 14th Legislative District’s Position 1 and Position 2 seats participated in the forum:

• Andy Kallinen of Lyle, a Republican.
• Chelsea Dimas of Sunnyside, a Democrat.
• Eddie Perez of Union Gap, no party preference.
• Ana Ruiz Kennedy of Pasco, a Democrat.

Absent from the forum are Republican Gloria Mendoza , of Grandview, and Republican Deb Manjarrez , of Wapato.

Democrats are looking to flip seats in the 14th from red to blue after a U.S. District Court judge earlier this year instated a new redistricting map aimed at giving Latino voters a greater voice in choosing their state representatives.

The new map made some heavy changes to voting boundaries in Central Washington and the Yakima Valley, and as a result drew out state Reps. Chris Corry and Gina Mosbrucker , both Republicans, from the 14th district.

Republican incumbent Sen. Curtis King and his challenger, Democrat Maria Beltran , were not invited for the forum since both will advance to the general election.

The new 14th Legislative District now includes Pasco, parts of Kennewick, parts of Yakima, Wapato, Toppenish, Finley, parts of Goldendale and the Yakama Reservation.