2026 Spokane county
ballot guide
Election Day is November 3, 2026: Learn how to register, access the online voters’ guide, and find information on how to vote here.
ballot date & deadlines
The Downtown Spokane Partnership’s 2026 Ballot Guide provides information to help downtown stakeholders navigate the November General Election. Explore key election dates and deadlines, candidate responses to DSP’s questionnaire, and information on issues relevant to downtown Spokane.
- October 14 – 16: Ballots are mailed to registered Spokane County voters and accessible voting units (AVUs) are available at voting centers.
- October 26: Online and mail registrations must be recieved 8 days before Election Day.
- November 3: Deadline for Washington state voter registration or updates (in person only).
- November 3: General Election – Drop your ballot in an official drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Candidates
Elected leaders play a critical role in shaping a strong and thriving downtown. Following the August primary, the DSP invited candidates running for Spokane County offices and Washington legislative district 3 (downtown district) to share their vision and priorities for downtown Spokane. Questionnaires were tailored to each office, with questions based on the DSP’s Policy Platform and the responsibilities of the respective position. As a result, not all candidates received the same questions.
This information is provided for educational purposes only. DSP does not endorse, support, or oppose any candidate for office.
U.S. Representative | Congressional District 5
Michael Baumgartner
Professional licenses or experience: U.S. Representative (2025-current); Spokane County Treasurer (2019-2024); eight years in the Washington State Senate; former State Department officer in Iraq and counternarcotics adviser in Afghanistan. Economics degree, Washington State University; Master in Public Administration, Harvard Kennedy School.
Help us get to know you, what is your favorite event or small business downtown? Bloomsday – I first ran it as a child and now love to take part with my family. (It’s getting harder to keep up with the children!).
Carmela
Conroy
State Representative, Position 1 | Legislative District 3
Natasha Hill
Tony Kiepe
Professional licenses or experience: Insurance.
Help us get to know you, what is your favorite event or small business downtown? Gena’s Mexican food on 30th. Gena started her restaurant last year and is trying expand but can not get the permitting to finish the build out. Its been 4 month’s.
State Representative, Position 2 | Legislative District 3
Luc Jasmin III
Luc Jasmin III did not submit a response to the DSP Candidate Questionnaire.
Natalie Poulson
Professional licenses or experience: Professional Certification in Education.
Help us get to know you, what is your favorite event or small business downtown? Hoopfest.
County Commissioner | District 2
Amber Waldref
Professional licenses or experience: Spokane County Commissioner 2023-current; Spokane City Councilmember, 2010-2017; Director, The Zone Project, Northeast Community Center 2018-2022; Development Director, The Lands Council 2004-2009.
Help us get to know you, what is your favorite event or small business downtown? One of my favorite events is Terrain. I love Boo Radley’s and Atticus, as well as O’Doherty’s.
County Commissioner | District 4
Rachelle Miller
Suzanne Schmidt
Professional licenses or experience: Washington State House Representative 4th LD, Former President/CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors Inland Pacific Chapter, Member of the State Building Code Council, Member of the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, Member of the GSVCC Executive Committee, Member of the Washington State Institute of Public Policy.
Help us get to know you, what is your favorite event or small business downtown? My favorite downtown event is the Trees of Elegance, my favorite small business is Wonders of the World in the Flour Mill.
County Assessor
Tom Konis
Professional licenses or experience: I have worked in the Assessor’s office for 33 year and have served as the assessor for 8 years.
Help us get to know you, what is your favorite event or small business downtown? In my younger years it was Hoopfest and Bloomsday. Now I’m more on pace for First Friday.
County Auditor
Callie Gee
Michael Cathcart
Professional licenses or experience: Elected Experience (Current) Spokane City Councilmember, elected 2019/re-elected 2023; Chair, Spokane Regional Health District; Chair, Northeast Public Development Authority; Boardmember, Spokane Transit Authority. (Previous) Chair, Growth Management Steering Committee; Council President Pro Tem; Chair, Police & Fire Pension Boards; Finance Committee Chair; Public Safety Chair; Member, Budget Committee; Boardmember, Broadlinc Regional Broadband Development Authority Other Professional Experience Executive Director, Better Spokane; Director of Government Affairs, Spokane Home Builders Association; legislative staff, Washington State Senate. Education Bachelor’s, Montana State University (2006).
Help us get to know you, what is your favorite event or small business downtown? Favorite Event: Spokane’s Lunar New Year Celebration at the Spokane Convention Center | Favorite Small Business: First Avenue Coffee | Favorite New Restaurant: Izzies K Dogs.
County Clerk
Dave Lucas
Professional licenses or experience: Cheney Municipal Court Administrator, Retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel.
Help us get to know you, what is your favorite event or small business downtown? Bloomsday and Italy Fest.
Elliot Robison
Professional licenses or experience: Business Intelligence Analyst at CHAS Health, Director of Strategy Spokane County Young Democrats, Chair of the Washington Native Plant Society Northeast Chapter.
Help us get to know you, what is your favorite event or small business downtown? Cedar Coffee is my favorite small business. They are the epitome of the American sm all business dream, Ukrainian Refugees who truly enjoy providing the goods and services of a café down to the smallest detail or tiny flourish. I buy all my coffee from there and recommend their vanilla latte. It’s hard to pick a favorite event downtown event. Recently I’ve really enjoyed Terrain’s Summer BAZAAR, with a huge number of great vendors and citizens enjoying the festivities. I also really enjoy restaurant week. I used to work in the service industry and love to see those businesses celebrated and have chance to flaunt their abilities.
County Prosecuting Attorney
Danny Tarkenton
Professional licenses or experience: I hold a Washington State Bar License and a Juris Doctor from Gonzaga University School of Law, earned with Pro Bono Distinction. As a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Spokane County, I prosecuted misdemeanor cases and worked on involuntary treatment proceedings. I hold undergraduate degrees in philosophy from Gonzaga University and psychology, Summa Cum Laude, from Eastern Washington University. I am pursuing a Master’s in Forensic Psychology at Arizona State University and presented research at the American Psychological Association’s annual conference in Washington, D.C., this past August. Before law school, I served six years in the Army National Guard, including four on activated status and a 2016 deployment to Iraq.
Help us get to know you, what is your favorite event or small business downtown? My favorite event is Spokane Pride! Downtown is also where I do most of my shopping. I love browsing the vintage scene at Entropy, Petunia & Loomis, Merlyn’s Comics and Games, and the other small vintage shops nearby, along with Auntie’s Bookstore and Uncle’s Games. For a bite or a night out, Gander & Ryegrass and Cease & Desist are two of my favorites.
Preston McCollam
Professional licenses or experience: Juris Doctorate-Gonzaga University School of Law & Bachelors-Eastern Washington University.
Help us get to know you, what is your favorite event or small business downtown? I love taking my family downtown around Christmas to see the lights and the trees at the Davenport Hotel.
County Sheriff
John F. Nowles
County Treasurer
Mike Volz
BALLOT REPLACEMENT
If your ballot was lost or damaged because of the Spokane-area wildfires, you can print a replacement ballot packet:
- Access your voter registration at VoteWA.gov.
- Select Your Ballot & Voting Materials.
- Select Get a Replacement Ballot.
- Print your replacement ballot packet.
Replacement ballot packets are also available at the Spokane County Elections Office and the Centerplace Voter Service Center on Election Day.
Please note: Ballots must be returned by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, at an official ballot drop box or postmarked by Election Day if returned by mail. More information for impacted voters is available through the Spokane County Elections Office.