Results from the Tuesday, Aug. 4 primary election show Democratic challengers leading Republican incumbents in four legislative races across Clark County and Washougal.

According to reporting by the Washington State Standard and Clark County Today, the results place several sitting representatives behind their opponents as they head toward the November general election. The outcomes in the 17th and 18th Legislative Districts could impact the balance of power in the state House, where Democrats are seeking to expand their majority.

In the 18th District, Position 2, Democrat Deken Letinich leads Republican Representative John Ley 53.2% to 46.7%. Letinich is a union leader, while Ley won the seat in 2024. The Washington State Standard describes Ley as a steady critic of the project to build a new bridge on Interstate 5 across the Columbia River. The bridge project has been a central issue in recent local elections, as previously reported by Columbia Countercurrent on July 31.

In the 18th District, Position 1, first-time candidate Randi Knott leads incumbent Representative Stephanie McClintock 51.6% to 48.2%. McClintock is currently seeking her third term in the House.

The 17th District saw similar margins for challengers:

• In Position 1, Ben Christly, a Navy veteran, received 52.7% of the vote, leading incumbent Representative Kevin Waters, who received 44%. According to reporting by Clark County Today, a third candidate, Thomas Everett Haynes, received 3.2%.
• In Position 2, Diana Perez leads Representative David Stuebe 54.82% to 45.01%.

Waters joined the Legislature in 2023 and ran unopposed in the previous election cycle. Stuebe, who also serves as the mayor of Washougal, won his legislative seat by a 1% margin in 2024. Perez is a member of the Vancouver City Council.

Because the 17th District Position 2 and both 18th District races featured only two candidates, all participants will automatically advance to the general election. In the 17th District Position 1, Christly and Waters will advance as the top two finishers.

These results follow other regional primary developments reported by Columbia Countercurrent on August 5, including the advancement of Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and John Braun in the Third Congressional District.

Source: Primary election results reveal Republicans have work to do in 17th and 18th District legislative races