Clark County, Wash. – At a recent Washington State Republican Party quarterly meeting, Clark County Republican Party Chairman Matt Bumala shared data indicating that a majority of primary non‑voters in the county’s 17th and 18th legislative districts were Republicans. According to party records, roughly 60% of those who did not cast a ballot on August 4 were registered Republicans.
Primary results highlight missed opportunities
The turnout gap showed tangible effects in the August primary races. In the 17th Legislative District, Republican incumbent Rep. Kevin Waters lost to challenger Ben Christie by more than 13%, and Rep. David Stubbe was defeated by Diana Perez with a similar margin. In the 18th District, Rep. Stephanie McClintock fell short of Randy Knott by over 4%, while Rep. John Lee was overtaken by Deacon Letnitch by about 7%.
Even in the traditionally Democratic 49th District, Republican Sarah Middleman trailed Democrat Kim Harless by 24% in the first‑position race, and challenger Derek Thompson fell 45% behind incumbent Monica Stonier in the second‑position race.
General election outlook
Bumala emphasized that general‑election turnout historically exceeds primary participation. In the 2022 midterms, 43.7% of Clark County’s registered voters cast ballots in the August primary, compared with 63% in the November general. For the 2026 cycle, the August primary turnout was about 38%.
He urged Republican voters who sat out the primary to register and vote in November, suggesting that the party could secure a “landslide” if participation improves. Party officials, including Committeewoman Ann O’Neill and Committeeman Dick Rylander, also highlighted outreach efforts such as voter‑information flyers and a text‑messaging system used during the primaries.
Party strategy moving forward
The Republican leadership plans to distribute additional meeting notes and voter‑mobilization materials in the coming weeks. Rylander noted that Republicans are targeting several open seats on Washington’s Supreme Court in an effort to shift the court toward a more neutral or conservative composition.
Overall, the party remains optimistic about the November ballot, citing the potential for gains in the 17th, 18th, and even the 49th districts if Republican voters turn out in larger numbers.
Original reporting: Clark County Today (Vancouver WA) — read the source article.
