Washington's 8th Congressional District election, 2020 (August 4 top-two primary)
- Primary date: Aug. 4
- Primary type: Top-two
- Registration deadline(s): Aug. 3
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: Yes
- Early voting starts: July 17[1]
- Absentee/mail voting deadline(s): Aug. 4 (received)
- Voter ID: Photo ID
- Poll times: Varies locally[1]
2022 →
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| Washington's 8th Congressional District |
|---|
 |
| Top-two primary General election |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: May 15, 2020 |
| Primary: August 4, 2020 General: November 3, 2020 Pre-election incumbent: Kim Schrier (Democratic) |
| How to vote |
| Poll times: Poll opening hours vary; close at 8 p.m. (most voting done by mail) Voting in Washington |
| Race ratings |
Inside Elections: Solid Democratic Sabato's Crystal Ball: Lean Democratic |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2020 |
| See also |
1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th Washington elections, 2020 U.S. Congress elections, 2020 U.S. Senate elections, 2020 U.S. House elections, 2020 |
A top-two primary took place on August 4, 2020, in Washington's 8th Congressional District to determine which two candidates would run in the district's general election on November 3, 2020.
Incumbent Kim Schrier and Jesse Jensen advanced from the primary for U.S. House Washington District 8.
| Candidate filing deadline | Primary election | General election |
|---|---|---|
Heading into the election, the incumbent was Kim Schrier (Democrat), who was first elected in 2018.
Washington uses a top-two primary system, in which all candidates appear on the same ballot, for congressional and state-level elections. The top two vote-getters move on to the general election, regardless of their party affiliation. In states that do not use a top-two system, all parties are usually able to put forward a candidate for the general election if they choose to.[2][3]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
This page focuses on Washington's 8th Congressional District's top-two primary. For more in-depth information on the district's general election, see the following page:
Candidates and election results
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House Washington District 8
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kim Schrier (D) | 43.3 | 106,611 |
| ✔ |  | Jesse Jensen (R)  | 20.0 | 49,368 |
 | Keith Swank (R) | 17.4 | 42,809 | |
 | Dave Saulibio (Trump Republican Party) | 11.8 | 28,976 | |
 | Corey Bailey (Independent) | 2.7 | 6,552 | |
 | James Mitchell (D) | 2.5 | 6,187 | |
 | Keith Arnold (D) | 1.7 | 4,111 | |
 | Ryan Burkett (Unaffiliated) | 0.6 | 1,458 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 289 | ||
| Total votes: 246,361 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways. Either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey or Ballotpedia staff created a profile after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[4] Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements.
Party: Independent
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "I'm not a democrat nor a republican; I'm not even a politician. I'm a simple minded, 3rd generation fisherman, middle-class working husband and father trying to provide for my family. I am running for this position because I am frustrated with how politicians have taken control of our government. A government that is supposed to be of the people and by the people has turned into quid pro quo and back room deals and ultimately, they don't get anything accomplished. As a citizen of this great country, I have decided to raise my hand and say STOP! I chose to run as an Independent; that way I owe no devotion to either party. My devotion is to the people that I represent. I want to send Congress a clear message that We the People are fed up with their political nonsense. We the People tell our government what we want, not the other way around. Therefore, I ask that you, citzens of Washington State, stand up and yell STOP with me, by considering to cast your vote for me. And if elected, you can be sure, that I will Give'em HELL on the HILL! Thank you and God Bless. "
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Washington District 8 in 2020.
Party: Unaffiliated
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "I am an individual that knows there is a cooler future for our country, and humanity, if we choose to create it with purpose. To that I will add, I was born in Indio, California year that Supreme Court was re-hearing arguments about women's liberty and family planning. In '76 I found myself living in Globe, Arizona taking a cross country road trip to Olympics in Canada. I ended up back in California getting my first lesson in geopolitics with gas shortage of '79. My 3 years in Eugene, Oregon is where I got introduced to our ever-changing climate when EPA started flexing against timber industry. Finally made it to Washington in '83 when I realized that my study of economics would begin on Mercer Island. On my way to Congressional District 8 I did time on East Coast, 3 months in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and 6 months in rural Pennsylvania about 30 minutes east of Philly. I have been in Issaquah for 11 years now and a record setting 6 years at same address. I am a total of all these experiences, and I choose to create a more perfect future for us and our posterity. #Hateislackoflove"
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Washington District 8 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "I am the son of a Pastor, proud father of three, former Congressional Staffer, four tour US Army Captain and Special Operations Combat Veteran with two Bronze Stars, and successful businessman. I married an Auburn Riverside and WSU alumni and we are raising a family in beautiful Bonney Lake. I got my MBA from Columbia Business School and worked for Microsoft and served as a Director of a Health Care company with clinics from Kent to Graham. I spent the early part of my career working on Capitol Hill learning about public policy and government leadership. It wasn't until a visit with a wounded soldier, at the height of the Iraq war, that I became inspired to enlist in the military to serve my country in uniform. As a Captain in the US Army and as a member of the elite Ranger Regiment, I underwent the most intense training our military has to offer and deployed on four combat tours. It was during this time that I learned that the best leaders are servants to those they are entrusted to lead. I decided to run for Congress because too many in D.C. have failed to be servants to the people. My military background combined with my experience working in the Private sector, managing healthcare facilities, and passion for servant leadership has prepared me to serve you in Congress."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Washington District 8 in 2020.
Party: Democratic Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "I'm James Mitchell, "uniting us all for a better life"! I am a Christian, a father, an entrepreneur and business builder! A visionary! I'm a PRO-Life Democrat with traditional values for the working class and restoration of the Party for teamwork, as was intended! My Pro-Life platform includes affordable housing, better wages brought with innovative manufacturing for more jobs. You need healthcare as your right, be it conventional or natural, whichever serves you better for some of your needs! I bring whole education reform, teaching our children how life works, including more homeschool support & opportunities! I'm a hybrid that includes conservative Republican values, working together to serve You! To me there is NO Higher Calling than service to another. That includes me volunteering in Seattle Union Gospel Mission "Search & Rescue" missions providing food, water, clothing & blankets to homeless, even in Seattle's "Jungle". I've met with Vine Maple Place and New Horizons Youth Homeless Shelter to determine their unmet needs. I am your Congressman with Heart! Heart for all of us hard working, people that are trying to live a good life with values, raising our families and caring for one another. I'm asking for your vote August 4th to unseat a freshman Congresswoman who only brings abortion and a fight for mandatory every AMA-allowed vaccine. She even wants our Federal Government to force these vaccines on your children! She stands for death; I stand for Life! God Bless You!"
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Washington District 8 in 2020.
Party: Trump Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "I am a Trump Republican and MAGA warrior. Trump is a once-in-a-century President. Trump will rebuild our economy bigger and better than ever. But, Congress has to help, or get out his way. The 2020 elected congressional candidates will either make Trump's job easier or difficult the next two years. Trump is fighting for us with one had behind his back. I have just one mission: Do whatever it takes to make Trump's job easier so we all have peace and prosperity."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Washington District 8 in 2020.
District analysis
- See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
- See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores
The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was EVEN, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were within 1 percentage point of the national average. This made Washington's 8th Congressional District the 202nd most Democratic nationally.[5]
FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 1.05. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.05 points toward that party.[6]
Campaign finance
The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission.
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kim Schrier | Democratic Party | $5,452,642 | $3,804,549 | $1,717,753 | As of December 31, 2020 |
| Keith Arnold | Democratic Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| James Mitchell | Democratic Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Jesse Jensen | Republican Party | $857,594 | $847,467 | $10,127 | As of December 31, 2020 |
| Keith Swank | Republican Party | $30,840 | $28,565 | $2,327 | As of December 31, 2020 |
| Dave Saulibio | Trump Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Ryan Burkett | Unaffiliated | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Corey Bailey | Independent | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
|
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2020. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
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General election race ratings
- See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:
- Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
- Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
- Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[7]
- Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.
Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[8][9][10]
| Race ratings: Washington's 8th Congressional District election, 2020 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
| November 3, 2020 | October 27, 2020 | October 20, 2020 | October 13, 2020 | ||||||
| The Cook Political Report | Likely Democratic | Likely Democratic | Likely Democratic | Likely Democratic | |||||
| Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Solid Democratic | Solid Democratic | Solid Democratic | Solid Democratic | |||||
| Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | |||||
| Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every week throughout the election season. | |||||||||
See also
- Washington's 8th Congressional District election, 2020
- United States House elections in Washington, 2020 (August 4 top-two primaries)
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2020
- United States House Republican Party primaries, 2020
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2020
- U.S. House battlegrounds, 2020
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Washington is a vote-by-mail state. Early voting dates and polling hours apply to county-level vote centers where individuals can instead vote in person.
- ↑ NCSL, "State Primary Election Types," accessed October 3, 2024
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Top 2 Primary: FAQs for Candidates," accessed October 3, 2024
- ↑ Candidate Connection surveys completed before September 26, 2019, were not used to generate candidate profiles. In battleground primaries, Ballotpedia based its selection of noteworthy candidates on polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. In battleground general elections, all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to impact the outcome of the race were included.
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
- ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
- ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
