Who's running in Washington's 1st congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
2 candidates · ballot order · Suzan DelBene currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Technology and data privacy policy, drawn from her Microsoft career.
Agriculture and trade, through her Ways and Means Committee work.
Abortion rights.
Child tax credit expansion, a long-standing priority.
Continued United States support for Israel.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 1st District since November 2012; re-elected in 2024 with 63.0%.
Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee since January 2023.
Former Microsoft executive and director of the Washington State Department of Revenue.
Took 49.9% in the August 4, 2026 top-two primary against four Democratic challengers, one Republican and one independent.
Arguments in favor
She has the state labour movement and the major issue organisations behind her — the Washington State Labor Council, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Reproductive Freedom for All, the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund and Giffords — as well as the endorsement of The Stranger, Seattle's alternative weekly.
— Endorsements from the organisations and publication named
As DCCC chair she is one of the most senior House Democrats, which gives the district's representative a national platform, and she took half the vote in a seven-candidate primary against challengers from both directions.
— Her DCCC chairmanship; August 2026 primary results
Arguments against
House Democrats have publicly criticised her handling of the DCCC. Candidates told Axios the committee's involvement in contested primaries was "absolutely infuriating," her Washington colleague Pramila Jayapal said "I don't think they should get involved in primaries," and members pushed for changes after the committee spent more than $500,000 on a losing primary candidate in Arizona.
— House Democratic members and candidates, reported by Axios; Rep. Pramila Jayapal
Jewish Insider reported that she repeatedly brushed aside questions about the party's response to antisemitism after the 2026 New York City elections, and the NRCC has run its own attacks on her performance as DCCC chair.
— Jewish Insider, June 2026; National Republican Congressional Committee
What we couldn’t verify
Both criticisms are about her national party role rather than her representation of this district. No criticism of DelBene by name from Mary Silva or her campaign could be found.
Her primary challenger Hunter Gordon was endorsed by CAIR Action and Track AIPAC, indicating a disagreement on Israel policy within the district's Democrats; Gordon did not advance and no organisation was found making that criticism of DelBene by name.
Her campaign site is behind a challenge page that blocks automated retrieval; her positions above come from her congressional record and endorsement list.
Health care policy, drawn from twenty years of clinical practice.
Offering the district's Republican voters a candidate in a seat the party rarely contests seriously.
Cost of living in the northern Seattle suburbs.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Audiologist in practice for about twenty years; lives in Mill Creek.
Holds a bachelor's degree from Western Washington University (2003), a graduate degree from Washington State University (2006) and a further degree from Salus University (2009).
Ran for this district in 2024 and again in 2026.
Advanced from the August 4, 2026 top-two primary with 30.8% as the only Republican in a seven-candidate field.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
She consolidated the district's Republican vote in a seven-candidate open primary, taking 30.8% against four Democrats and an independent, and is the only candidate other than the incumbent to have appeared on this district's general election ballot twice.
— August 4, 2026 top-two primary results
Arguments against
The district has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+15 and every forecaster rates it safe or solid Democratic; DelBene won by twenty-six points in 2024 and took nearly half the primary vote against six opponents.
— Cook Political Report partisan index and race ratings; 2024 and 2026 results
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Silva by name could be found — not from Suzan DelBene or her campaign, not from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and not in Seattle-area news coverage. Searches covered DCCC materials, her name against criticism and opponent terms, and the Washington State Standard, KING 5, the Skagit Valley Herald and the Everett Herald.
No verified campaign website could be found. A domain matching her campaign name belongs to a different Silva running for city council in California, and her FEC committee filing lists no site that resolved.
Her published policy positions are thin: profiles list her occupation and education but not detailed federal positions, and no endorsements were found.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Washington uses a top-two primary: all candidates run on one ballot in August and the two highest finishers advance regardless of party. In the August 4, 2026 primary, Democratic incumbent Suzan DelBene took 49.9% and Republican Mary Silva 30.8%; four other Democrats and one independent were eliminated. Those two appear on the November ballot. The district covers the northern Seattle metropolitan area — Kirkland, Redmond, and parts of Bellevue, Marysville and Arlington — and has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+15. Every forecaster rates it safe or solid Democratic.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Washington ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Washington Secretary of State.