Bateman has larger-than-expected lead over Iyall in primary for 22nd District Senate race
Preliminary results show Jessica Bateman and Bob Iyall advancing in the primary race for the State Senate seat representing the 22nd Legislative District, which includes Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater.
Two candidates advance to the general election.
Bateman, a Democrat, led Iyall, also a Democrat, in the race with 69.8% of the vote, or 16,496 votes. Iyall had 20.4% or 4,824 votes.
Tela Hogle, a Democrat, trailed Bateman and Iyall with 7.2% of the vote.
Hogle said she wasn’t surprised at the results, but she is hoping to gain on Iyall as more votes come in.
“The hope is I can pull ahead of Bob, and we’ll see,” Hogle said. “I’m not giving up hope.”
Whoever ultimately wins the District 22 race in November will replace longtime legislator Sam Hunt for the four-year position. Hunt, 81, decided not to run for re-election.
Bateman has served as the 22nd District’s representative for the past four years. She told The Olympian that during that time, she has served on the Housing Committee and the Capital Budget Committee, and she has been Vice Chair of the Health Care Committee all four years.
She also has a day job as a strategic adviser for Washington Community Health Centers, which are nonprofit health care organizations that, as a network, provide care to a large percentage of Medicaid patients.
Before serving in the legislature, Bateman served as an Olympia City Council member for five years, two of those as Deputy Mayor. Prior to that, she was on the Planning Commission and the board of GRuB, the local nonprofit focused on food security and community.
Bateman said the preliminary results were better than even her campaign had hoped for.
“I’m filled with deep gratitude for our community and its support of my candidacy,” Bateman said. “After a little break, I’m ready to get back to it and keep working for the people in the 22nd.”
Iyall said he was feeling good about the results. He said he appreciates all those who are supporting him, and as long as he gets through the primary — there are thousands of votes left to count — he’s not giving up hope.
Iyall is currently a Commissioner at the Port of Olympia, elected in 2021. He is an elder and member of the Nisqually Indian Tribe, and CEO of the Medicine Creek Enterprise Corporation, which manages the tribe’s for-profit businesses.
He grew up in Thurston County and graduated from Tumwater High School. He was in the building trades and is a 45-year retired member of the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers. Near the end of his career he went back to school and received his MBA.
22nd LD House races
Incumbent Beth Doglio, a Democrat, was leading Steve Owens, who didn’t state a party preference, in the primary race for Position 1 representing the 22nd Legislative District in the House of Representatives.
Doglio had 74.9% or 18,492 votes while Owens had 24.1% or 5,942 votes.
Democrats Syd Locke and Lisa Parshley are running against each other for Position 2 representing the 22nd Legislative District.
Parshley, an Olympia City Council member, was leading Locke, a legislative assistant, with 65.3% or 14,959 votes. Locke had 31.4% or 7,195 votes.
All of the candidates in both races will advance to the general election.
35th LD House Seat
The 35th Legislative District House seat, which represents Mason County and parts of Thurston and Kitsap counties, has two positions up for grabs.
Incumbent Dan Griffey, a Republican, is running unopposed for Position 1. State Rep. Travis Couture is facing a challenge from fellow Republican Eric Onisko and Democrat James DeHart in the primary race for the district’s Position 2. Two candidates will advance to the general election.
Early primary election results show Dan Griffey with 92.7% or 21,054 votes. He has been in office since 2015.
For Position 2, Couture narrowly leads DeHart with 45.75% or 13,860 votes. DeHart had 43.6% or 13,213 votes. Onisko trailed the two with 10.5% or 3,181 votes.
This story was originally published August 6, 2024 at 9:15 PM.
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