Ferguson and Reichert to square off for Washington governor

The latest: Ferguson and Reichert were well ahead of more than two dozen other candidates for governor in early results from Tuesday's top-two primary, causing the AP to call the race in their favor shortly after polls closed.

• Results from the vote-by-mail election, which will continue to stream in throughout the week, will decide which two candidates square off in dozens of races.

In the contest to replace Ferguson as Washington's attorney general, Democrat Nick Brown, a former U.S. attorney for Western Washington, will face Republican Pete Serrano, a Pasco City Council member who currently serves as the city's mayor.

• The AP called the primary for Brown and Serrano less than an hour after polls closed on Tuesday.
• Brown, who was capturing about 36% of early returns, edged out Democratic state Sen. Manka Dhingra, a former King County deputy prosecutor, who was capturing about 22% of the vote as of Tuesday.

Seattle City Council, Position 8

Seattle City Councilmember Tanya Woo was trailing Alexis Mercedes Rinck, assistant director of policy, planning and state operations in the University of Washington's budget office, in Tuesday's early returns.

• Rinck had 46.6% of the early vote, while Woo was capturing 41.4%.
• Both appear likely to advance to the November election, leading two other candidates, tech consultant Tariq Yusuf and community organizer Saunatina Sanchez, by wide margins.
• Woo needs to win this year's election to stay in office, after she was appointed in January.

U.S. House of Representatives, District 3

In Washington's most competitive congressional race, Democratic U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is headed toward a rematch against Republican Joe Kent, who is backed by former President Trump, the AP reported.

Gluesenkamp Perez, who defeated Kent in 2022, had 46.9% of the vote, while Kent was capturing 38.4% of the vote on Tuesday.

• Two other candidates, Republican Leslie Lewallen and independent John Saulie-Rohman, were also running for the seat, which represents Southwest Washington.

U.S. House of Representatives, District 8

In Washington's only other swing district, incumbent U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier (D-Sammamish) was ahead with 51.5%, followed by Republican Carmen Goers, who had 44.3% of the vote.

U.S. House of Representatives, District 6

State Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz and state Sen. Emily Randall, both Democrats, have been campaigning hard in this district that includes the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas and much of Tacoma.

• On Tuesday, Randall was leading with 33.3% of the vote, while State Rep. Drew McEwen (R-Union), was winning 30.5%.
• Franz was in third on Tuesday, capturing 25.7% of initial returns.

Commissioner of Public Lands

The race to replace Franz was too close to call on Tuesday.

• Republican former U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler took an early lead, capturing almost 23% of early returns, followed by fellow Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson, who had just over 20% of the early vote.
• King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove, a Democrat, was close behind in third, capturing just under 20% as of Tuesday.

Insurance Commissioner

Eight candidates are vying to replace Democratic Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, who isn't running for re-election after 24 years in office.

• Leading the pack on Tuesday were Democratic state Sen. Patty Kuderer with 45% of the vote, followed by Republican state Sen. Phil Fortunato with 28% of the vote.

Other races

U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Seattle) was far ahead in her re-election bid in the 7th Congressional District on Tuesday, winning more than 78% of early ballots.

• Her nearest challengers, Democrat Liz Hallock and Republican Dan Alexander, captured about 8% and 9% of early votes, respectively.
• U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Bellevue) easily advanced to the November ballot. But it wasn't clear if Smith would face Democrat Melissa Chaudhry or Republican Paul Martin as he defends his seat in the 9th Congressional District.