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 on the visions and priorities of candidates to help downtown stakeholders navigate the November General Election. You can also view the Spokane County Online Voters’ Guide for more general information. Remember these key election dates and deadlines:
- October 14 – 16: Ballots are mailed to registered Spokane County voters and accessible voting units (AVUs) are available at voting centers. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, November 3, 2026. USPS recommends mailing a week before election day.
- October 15: Ballot drop boxes are available. View Drop Box Locations.
- 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 elected office representing downtown in Spokane County offices 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 all questions. Answers are provided in their entirety.
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
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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
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.
Natasha Hill
State Representative, Position 2 | Legislative District 3
Luc Jasmin III
Professional licenses or experience: Co-Owner, Parkview Early Learning Center and Co-Owner, Jasmin Group.
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Help us get to know you, what is your favorite event or small business downtown? There’s so many places downtown that I like, it would be a disservice to single out just one. Instead, I’ll talk about what I love as a whole. I helped open Glow Children Early Learning and Lumen High School there, and I am proud of that work. What I love most is the movement of it all, the stores, the restaurants, Riverfront Park, catching a show at the Fox Theater or a set at Spokane Comedy Club. Whatever the interest, there’s always something to do downtown. I want to keep building on that and showcasing it, so we can bring in more tourism and grow the local economy.
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
Suzanne Schmidt
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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.Rachelle Miller
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
Michael Cathcart
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(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.Callie Gee
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
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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 small 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
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.
Danny Tarkenton
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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.
County Sheriff
John F. Nowles
County Treasurer
Mike Volz
