Elections themselves have become an issue amid race for Washington SoS

The position of Washington’s top election official is on the ballot this year. Eight candidates are in the running to become secretary of state. But first, they've got to get through the August primary.

Normally, the secretary of state job wouldn’t be up for a vote for two more years. But that changed when Republican Kim Wyman resigned from the position to take an election security role with the Biden administration.

Governor Jay Inslee appointed Democratic state Senator Steve Hobbs to take over for Wyman. Now Hobbs and seven other candidates are vying to finish out the last half of Wyman’s term.

In a sign of the times, election security, trust in elections and combating misinformation are all topics in this race. Voters will winnow the field of candidates in the August primary. The top two vote getters will advance to November, regardless of party.

The crowded primary field includes four Republicans, two Democrats, one nonpartisan, and one candidate who says he prefers the union party. So far, Hobbs has raised the most campaign funds, followed by Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson, the nonpartisan candidate. Behind them is Republican Mark Miloscia, a former state lawmaker.

Read the full story here.

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