Who's running in Washington's 10th 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 · Marilyn Strickland 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.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord and the district's defence economy, through her Armed Services seat.
Transportation and infrastructure investment.
Housing affordability, drawn from her time as Tacoma's mayor.
Abortion rights.
Continued United States support for Israel.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 10th District since January 2021; re-elected in 2024 with 58.5%.
Mayor of Tacoma from 2010 to 2017; first African American to represent Washington in Congress.
Serves on the House Armed Services and Transportation and Infrastructure committees.
Raised $1.51 million for the 2025–2026 cycle — about $839,000 from individuals and $667,000 from political action committees.
Took 47.3% in the August 4, 2026 top-two primary against five opponents.
Arguments in favor
The Washington State Labor Council, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, AIPAC and Democratic Majority for Israel endorsed her, and her Armed Services seat gives the district direct leverage over Joint Base Lewis-McChord, its largest employer.
— Endorsements from the organisations named; her committee position
She raised $1.51 million for the cycle — a financial advantage none of her challengers could match — and took nearly half the primary vote in a six-candidate field.
— Federal Election Commission filings reported by Legis1; August 2026 primary results
Arguments against
Two Democratic veterans ran against her over the war with Iran. Adam Arafat put it as a constitutional objection — Congress never voted for the war, and "WA-10 families at JBLM bear the human cost of that constitutional breach" — while Alex Scheel argued she has enabled military intervention and called for ending military aid to Israel.
— Adam Arafat and Alex Scheel, 2026 Democratic primary, reported by Alpha Democrat
She finished the primary below 50% with the two anti-war Democrats taking a combined 19.7%, and roughly 44% of her cycle fundraising — about $667,000 of $1.51 million — came from political action committees rather than individuals.
— August 2026 primary results; Federal Election Commission filings reported by Legis1
What we couldn’t verify
Both criticisms come from her own party's primary; no criticism of Strickland by name from Chris Chung or from the National Republican Congressional Committee could be found.
Neither of the two challengers advanced, and their combined share was well short of hers.
Her response to the war powers and PAC funding criticisms was not found.
Health care and pharmacy policy, drawn from thirty years running a community pharmacy.
Giving the district's Republican voters a candidate in a seat the party rarely contests.
Cost of living in the south Puget Sound.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Pharmacist; has operated a community pharmacy for more than thirty years; holds a graduate degree from St. John's University.
Lives in Lakewood; previously lived in Federal Way for more than twenty-five years.
Ran for Washington insurance commissioner in the 2024 primary as a Democrat, appearing under that label on the ballot and in voters' guides.
Appears on the 2026 ballot and in candidate directories as a Republican, and has not publicly explained the change.
Advanced from the August 4, 2026 top-two primary with 31.4%.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
He consolidated the district's Republican vote in a six-candidate open primary, taking 31.4% — more than the two Democratic challengers combined — and brings thirty years of running a community pharmacy to health care questions.
— August 4, 2026 top-two primary results; his professional record
Arguments against
He ran for statewide office as a Democrat in 2024 and appears on this ballot as a Republican without publicly explaining the change, and Alpha Democrat's analysis of the race treated him as taking the second general election place by default in a district Kamala Harris carried with 57%.
— Washington candidate filings for 2024 and 2026; Alpha Democrat analysis
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Chung by name from Marilyn Strickland, her campaign or the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee could be found; the party-switch point above rests on his own filings and on a race analysis rather than on an opponent's argument. Searches covered DCCC materials, his name against criticism and opponent terms, and The News Tribune, The Olympian, KING 5 and Alpha Democrat.
No verified campaign website could be found: one domain in his name does not resolve and another shows only a "launching soon" placeholder.
No fundraising figures, party committee endorsements or published policy positions beyond his candidate directory entries 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. In the August 4, 2026 primary, Democratic incumbent Marilyn Strickland took 47.3% and Republican Chris D. Chung 31.4%; two Democrats running against her on foreign policy — Alex Scheel (10.3%) and Adam Arafat (9.4%) — were eliminated, as were two others. Strickland and Chung appear on the November ballot. The district runs from Olympia into the southern Seattle metropolitan area, taking in Lakewood and Puyallup, and contains Joint Base Lewis-McChord with roughly 50,000 military and civilian personnel. Forecasters rate 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.