Elections

10 articles Thurston County voters should read to prepare for Nov. 4 election

Stories by The Olympian journalists, with AI summarization

These articles preview critical upcoming elections in Thurston County and where candidates stand on the issues. They focus on the candidates' positions on various issues, the results of primary elections, and the political landscape of key positions such as the Port of Olympia, city councils, and school boards.

Tumwater High School exterior/ Feb. 2025 By Steve Bloom

NO. 1: 10 PEOPLE ARE RUNNING FOR TUMWATER SCHOOL BOARD. HERE ARE THEIR PRIORITIES

The 10 candidates are running for four positions | Published May 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ty Vinson

No image found

NO. 2: OLYMPIA COUNCIL TO VOTE ON MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE PROPOSAL, BUT MEMBERS STILL HAVE QUESTIONS

The council will vote July 22 whether to adopt the Workers’ Bill of Rights ordinance without alteration, or to send it to a vote of the people. | Published July 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ty Vinson

NO. 3: PRIMARY PRIMER: 3 QUESTIONS FOR PORT OF OLYMPIA CANDIDATES

NOTE: | Published August 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ann Duan

Kevin Lincoln, formerly mayor of Stockton, is running for Congress in California’s 9th District. (Paul Bersebach/Orange County Register/TNS)

NO. 4: PRIMARY PRIMER: 3 QUESTIONS FOR OLYMPIA SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES

The official Voters Guide to the Aug. | Published August 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ann Duan

Is it wrong not to vote in elections?An old friend chides me for regularly encouraging people to register to vote and then to vote in local, state, and federal elections. (Lindaparton/Dreamstime/TNS)

NO. 5: PRIMARY PRIMER: 3 QUESTIONS FOR TUMWATER SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES

The official Voters Guide to the Aug. | Published August 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ann Duan

By William Whitehurst

NO. 6: PRIMARY PRIMER: 3 QUESTIONS FOR OLYMPIA CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES

The official Voters Guide to the Aug. | Published August 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ann Duan

Preliminary results for the Aug. 5 Primary Election are in, and several seats are up for grabs in the Olympia and Tumwater school districts. By Steve Bloom

NO. 7: OLYMPIA CITY COUNCIL INCUMBENTS SHOW STRENGTH IN INITIAL PRIMARY ELECTION RETURNS

Olympia City Council incumbents pulled ahead of their opponents in early primary election returns. | Published August 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ty Vinson

Preliminary results for the Aug. 5 Primary Election are in, and several seats are up for grabs in the Olympia and Tumwater school districts. By Steve Bloom

NO. 8: VOTERS CULL FIELD OF CANDIDATES FOR TUMWATER, OLYMPIA SCHOOL BOARDS

Julie Watts and Sarah Overbay will face each other in the general election for the Tumwater School District Board of Directors District No. | Published August 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ty Vinson, Ann Duan

Voter turnout was at 17.78% in the Aug. 5 Primary Election in Thurston County, according to preliminary results, with 27,506 votes cast. By Steve Bloom

NO. 9: UNSOELD, HEMSTAD — DEADLOCKED IN INITIAL TALLIES — TO FACE OFF FOR PORT SEAT IN NOVEMBER

Port of Olympia candidates Anthony Hemstad and Krag Unsoeld were the top two vote-getters in early returns from Tuesday’s primary election — and they were separated by just three votes in the first tally, suggesting the vote in November’s general election might be very close. | Published August 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ann Duan

The Lacey City Council candidates. From left: Maren Turner, Charles Beck, Evette Temple, Ryan Siu and Carolyn Cox with the microphone. By rboone@theolympian.com

NO. 10: BIGGEST CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES FACING LACEY? HERE’S HOW THE CANDIDATES RESPONDED

There was no primary election for Lacey City Council, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t people running to be elected in November’s general election. | Published August 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rolf Boone

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.