Kitsap judge declines to hear Trump ballot challenge, but effort continues in Washington

Washington voters aiming to keep former President Donald Trump off the 2024 presidential ballot will have to wait a little longer to know if their challenge will move forward in the court.

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On Tuesday, Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Bassett denied the case, saying that the Kitsap court was not the correct venue for the issue. That doesn't mean the effort has ultimately been rejected, however.

"Thurston County is the seat of our state government, legislative, judicial and executive branches," Judge Bassett said. "I'm concluding today that given their unique position as the seat of our state government, we are not the appropriate site for this action today and I decline to hear it."

Eight voters filed a challenge last week in both Kitsap and Thurston counties. Frankey Ithaka organized the ballot challenge effort, and told the judge they filed in both counties because all voters live in Kitsap, but they intend the challenge to go statewide and therefore also filed in Thurston County, where the Capitol is located.

"So we should go to Thurston (County), do our case in Thurston, on Thursday?" Ithaka asked in court.

"Yes," Judge Bassett said.