None the big “D” Democrats in the state’s 43rd Legislative District representing Capitol Hill and the nearby in Olympia will be primaried. And none will face a challenge from the right.

The final count of candidates registering for this summer’s August primary shows the state leaders hailing from the 43rd — Sen. Jamie Pedersen, Rep. Nicole Macri, and senior member Rep. Frank Chopp — are each running unopposed.

The area might be the power center for a nationally recognized socialist city council member but, this time around, there will not be a challenge from the left to push back on the Democratic stronghold.

There will also not be a single Republican in the races to lead the state district that includes the fast growing core of Capitol Hill around Pike/Pine and Broadway, the wealthier neighborhoods of North Capitol Hill, and some of the wealthiest enclaves in the city including the gated Broadmoor community, in addition to the core areas of north-of-the-Cut areas Fremont, Wallingford, and Ravenna.

The lack of challengers comes amid growing concerns that quality candidates cannot serve. For some, below $60,000 salaries are a major barrier including Kent’s Sen. Mona Das who announced she would not seek reelection partly due to the financial challenges. The experience of serving is also psychologically taxing — especially for BIPOC candidates. Earlier this year, Kirsten Harris-Talley announced she would not seek reelection in the state’s 37thd District to the 43rd’s south citing the body’s “toxic work environment.”

2022 CANDIDATES

Legislative District 43, State Senator

• Jamie Pedersen (Prefers Democratic Party)

Legislative District 43, State Representative Pos. 1

• Nicole Macri (Prefers Democratic Party)

Legislative District 43, State Representative Pos. 2

• Frank Chopp (Prefers Democratic Party)

U.S. Senator

• Henry Clay Dennison (Prefers Socialist Workers Party)
• Mohammad Hassan Said (Prefers Democratic Party)
• John Guenther (Prefers Republican Party)
• Tiffany Smiley (Prefers Republican Party)
• Dan Phan Doan (States No Party Preference)
• Dr Pano Churchill (Prefers Democratic Party)
• Dave Saulibio (Prefers JFK Republican Party)
• Sam Cusmir (Prefers Democratic Party)
• Bill Hirt (Prefers Republican Party)
• Jon Butler (Prefers Independent Party)
• Bryan Solstin (Prefers Democratic Party)
• Martin D. Hash (States No Party Preference)
• Patty Murray (Prefers Democratic Party)
• Thor Amundson (Prefers Independent Party)
• Charlie (Chuck) Jackson (Prefers Independent Party)
• Naz Paul (Prefers Independent Party)
• Ravin Pierre (Prefers Democratic Party)
• Leon Lawson (Prefers Trump Republican Party)

Congressional District 7, U.S. Representative

• Cliff Moon (Prefers Republican Party)
• Earnest Thompson (States No Party Preference) Withdrawn
• Pramila Jayapal (Prefers Democratic Party)
• Jesse A James (Prefers Independent Party)
• Paul Glumaz (Prefers Republican Party)

Meanwhile, “getting primaried” has already shaken up Seattle’s establishment politics. Seattle conservative and pro-law enforcement candidate Ann Davison became the City Attorney after eliminating Pete Holmes in the primary as he sought his fourth term and then defeated police abolitionist Nicole Thomas-Kennedy in November powered by a “soft on crime” backlash in the city and concerns about street disorder.

The lack of challengers isn’t unique to the 43rd but the neighboring 37th District representing the Central District and South Seattle will feature a few races. Democratic Sen. Rebecca Saldaña is challenger-less but a Republican has stepped forward to challenge Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos and the race for the second position in the House has a wide open four-way race.

Meanwhile, Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, our Democrat leaders in D.C. look unlikely to face serious challenges from their primary candidates.

2022’s biggest political race in Seattle, then, might just be the battle for King County Prosecutor.

In the 43rd, Chopp and Pedersen have overcome a series of challenges from the left powered by Kshama Sawant and the Socialist Alternative political group. Sawant’s political path in Seattle, in fact, began with an unsuccessful primary challenge to then-state representative Pedersen in 2012. That summer after being unable to unseat Pedersen, Sawant switched her target and challenged Chopp as a write-in. She also lost that race but her path was set. She would launch her first campaign for the Seattle City Council the next year. In 2014, Socialist Alternative candidate Jess Spear took on Chopp after leading roles in the $15 minimum wage and Sawant city council campaigns — and also lost handily. Chopp also crushed another challenge from the left in the form of Community organizer and sex worker advocate Sherae Lascelles in 2020 — but not before being forced to debate while dressed in a The Lord Of The Rings-style costume for Halloween.

Chopp is one of the longest serving members of the Washington State House of Representatives, serving since 1995 and serving as Speaker of the House for 20 years before stepping down in 2019. Chopp’s Capitol Hill credentials go back to the 1970s when he was among the earliest residents of 16th and Aloha’s PRAG House. In 1995, he began his first term in the state legislature and became speaker in 1999. Chopp has championed housing initiatives like the Home and Hope project, turning public property spaces into affordable housing units, and the Workforce Education Investment Act, providing full grants for college tuition to low-income students, and partial scholarships for middle-income students.

Capitol Hill resident Pedersen has served in Olympia since 2007 when he won election to the House to represent the 43rd District in a tight, six-way Democratic primary with only 23% of the vote. In 2013, Pedersen was tabbed to take over in the state Senate for then Seattle Mayor-elect Ed Murray. Pedersen fought hard for the legalization of gay marriage in Washington and has been a leader on civil rights and transportation funding including replacement of the 520 bridge.

Macri, meanwhile, won her office in 2016 after campaigning as proponent of housing first policies that seek to rapidly house homeless people before starting other interventions. Also a longtime resident of Capitol Hill, Macri has continued to champion housing policies including efforts, so far unsuccessful, to allow rent control in the state.

Each is now lined up to serve another term in Olympia.

The 2022 primary takes place August 2nd with the top two candidates in each race going through to the November 8th general. You can view a roster of every candidate who will appear on King County ballots this summer here.

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