Who's running in Washington's 8th 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 · Kim Schrier currently holds this seat
High confidenceHigh confidenceBacked by government records or the candidate's own official statements, with agreement across several independent sources.What would raise it: Nothing missing — this is the strongest evidence tier.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Health care access and lower prescription costs, argued from her medical career.
Agriculture and water policy for the district's east-of-the-Cascades half.
Abortion rights.
Wildfire prevention and forest management.
Appropriations for district projects.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 8th District since January 2019; re-elected in 2024 with 54.0%.
A paediatrician by profession; the first Democrat ever to hold this seat.
Voted against the Protect Kids Act in May 2026.
Took 53.7% in the August 4, 2026 top-two primary — an outright majority against five opponents.
Has out-raised her general election opponent by roughly twenty to one.
Arguments in favor
The Washington State Labor Council, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Reproductive Freedom for All, AIPAC, Democratic Majority for Israel, J Street and the Jewish Democratic Council of America all endorsed her — and she cleared 50% outright in a six-candidate primary in a district that had never elected a Democrat before her.
— Endorsements from the organisations named; August 2026 primary results
She has out-raised her opponent by roughly twenty to one, and forecasters have moved the seat from competitive to likely, solid or safe Democratic over the course of the cycle.
— Campaign finance reporting by Seattle Red; Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball and Decision Desk HQ ratings
Arguments against
Meline argues her moderate branding does not match her voting record, pointing to her May 2026 vote against the Protect Kids Act — which would bar schools from socially transitioning children without parental consent — and saying it shows she does not represent the district's common-sense values.
— Spencer Meline, reported by Seattle Red
Meline's central charge is on affordability: that the district is pricing out its own children. "I'm talking to these 18, 19 year old kids who I'm hiring at my business, who are just getting ready to save enough money to leave for Texas or Idaho to start their lives."
— Spencer Meline, reported by Seattle Red
What we couldn’t verify
No National Republican Congressional Committee material naming Schrier in this cycle was found, although the district was competitive as recently as 2024.
Her response to the Protect Kids Act criticism was not found.
Only one Democrat ran against her in the primary, taking 2.5%; there is no organised criticism of her from her own left in this district.
Housing affordability, which he calls the district's number one issue.
Reviving the first-time homebuyer tax credit.
Restricting institutional investors from buying single-family homes.
A portable mortgage pilot programme for VA loans.
Parental consent requirements in schools, which he raises against his opponent's record.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Small business owner from Cashmere; runs three restaurants; father of four.
Advanced from the August 4, 2026 top-two primary with 15.8%, beating fellow Republican Trinh Ha by about a point.
Endorsed by the King County Republican Party and, jointly with Bob Hagglund, the Snohomish County Republican Party.
Reported $126,516 in campaign contributions as of late July 2026.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
He has the King County Republican Party behind him and a joint Snohomish County endorsement, and he ran on a specific housing programme — first-time homebuyer credits, limits on institutional buyers of single-family homes, and portable VA mortgages — rather than on general opposition.
— County Republican party endorsements; his published housing proposals, reported by Seattle Red
Arguments against
He was out-raised roughly twenty to one, reporting $126,516 against the incumbent's total, and advanced only by about a point over another Republican while Schrier cleared 50% outright — in a district forecasters now rate likely to safe Democratic.
— Campaign finance reporting by Seattle Red; August 2026 primary results; forecaster ratings
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Meline by name could be found — not from Kim Schrier or her campaign, not from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and not in King, Snohomish, Chelan or Kittitas county news coverage. Searches covered DCCC materials, his name against criticism and opponent terms, and KING 5, the Leavenworth Echo, the Lake Chelan Mirror and the Wenatchee World.
Mainstream Republicans of Washington endorsed two of his primary rivals rather than him.
No National Republican Congressional Committee endorsement or spending on his behalf was 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 Kim Schrier took 53.7% and Republican Spencer Meline 15.8%, narrowly beating fellow Republican Trinh Ha (14.8%) for the second place on the ballot; three others were eliminated. Schrier and Meline appear on the November ballot. The district runs from the eastern Seattle suburbs — Sammamish, Issaquah, Maple Valley — across the Cascades to Wenatchee, Leavenworth and Ellensburg. Schrier won it with 54.0% in 2024; forecasters now rate it likely, solid or safe 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.