6th District Representative, Position 2
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Dave Wilson (D) | 10,051 | 42.72% |
| Jenny Graham (R) | 7,188 | 30.55% |
| John W. Aiken Jr (R) | 3,632 | 15.44% |
| Rion Ametu (D) | 2,659 | 11.30% |
* Race percentages are calculated with data from the Secretary of State's Office, which omits write-in votes from its calculations when there are too few to affect the outcome. The Spokane County Auditor's Office may have slightly different percentages than are reflected here because its figures include any write-in votes.
About the Race
The Candidates
Dave Wilson
- Party:
- Democratic
- Age:
- 69
- City:
- Spokane, WA
- Occupation:
- Founder of Interface College
Education: Graduated from United Township High School in 1973. Earned bachelor's in communications from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa in 1976. Received master's in education from Gonzaga University in 2000.
Political background: Ran for Congress as independent 2014 and 2016. Helped found People for Effective Government in 2017. Ran as a Democrat for the Washington House of Representatives, District 6, in 2018.
Work experience: Founder and former owner Interface College, which he sold in 2011. He started the business as Interface Computer Services in 1982 and renamed it Interface Computer School and then Interface College. Part-time hay farmer. Former district manager of Radio Shack.
Family: Married. Has six adult children.
Jenny Graham
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 59
- City:
- Spokane, Washington
Education: Graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Auburn, Washington, in 1983. Licensed by Nash Beauty School in 1984.
Political experience: Elected to current seat in the state House of Representatives in 2018 and has won re-election every two years since.
Work experience: Former owner of Estes & Graham Home Rentals, LLC. Served in U.S. Army Reserves.
Family: Married to Curtis Graham. Has three adult children.
Campaign finance: Raised more than $99,000 as of Oct. 2, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Top donors include Delta Dental, the Washington Indian Gaming Association, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Kaiser Aluminum, Washington State Troopers Political Action Committee, Chevron, Puget Sound Energy and the Washington Association of Realtors.
John W. Aiken Jr
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 72
- City:
- Medical Lake, WA
Education: Graduated from Medical Lake High School in 1970. Attended USAF Academy Preparatory School 1970-71. Graduated Eastern Washington University in 1984 with a bachelor's in geology.
Political experience: Ran for Spokane City Council in 1997, worked with Bush-Cheney campaign in 2000 for inaugural and election team, ran for governor in 2004 and 2008.
Work experience: Retired owner of mining and processing company Calispel Industrial Minerals, Calispel Resources Corp., geologist for Pend Oreille Silica Inc. in Bayview, Idaho. Public works inspector with city of Spokane.
Family: Unmarried.
Rion Ametu
- Party:
- Democratic
- Age:
- 44
- City:
- Spokane, Washington
Education: High school in college at DeVry University, current student at Spokane Falls Community College.
Political experience: Delegate for Bernie Sanders 2016 state convention in Olympia.
Work experience: Full-time student, drives for Uber. Served in U.S. Navy.
Family: Engaged. Has one child, one soon-to-be stepchild.
Complete Coverage
Editorial Endorsements: Holy, Volz and Graham for District 6
Voters in Washington’s 6th Legislative District have clear choices when they step into the ballot box. Jeff Holy, Mike Volz and Jenny Graham would best represent the region.
In televised debate with Dave Wilson, House candidate Jenny Graham says death penalty not racially disproportionate
In a debate with Democrat Dave Wilson, Republican Jenny Graham correctly said there were more white people than black people on death row and that she supported maintaining the death penalty. Wilson said he had concerns about the sentences being handed out disproportionately, a contention that has been supported by research conducted by the University of Washington.
6th District candidates answer student questions in EWU forum
Five candidates vying for the West Plains’ three open seats answered Eastern Washington University student’s questions on social policy and criminal justice reform in a public forum Wednesday.
Jenny Graham, Dave Wilson in tight race for 6th District House seat
A Republican-turned-Democrat and an advocate-turned-politician are vying for an open House seat in what may be Eastern Washington’s only swing district. Republican Jenny Graham views taxes as the single biggest impediment to creating a safer and more just society, and condemns any measure that smacks of a new tax.
Dave Wilson, Jenny Graham advance in 6th District House race
Democrat Dave Wilson won 6th District primary with 42.7 percent of the votes, while Republican Jenny Graham came in second with 30.5 percent.
6th District candidates make final push leading up to primaries
As primary election night approaches, Spokane County 6th District House candidate Dave Wilson has raised several thousand dollars more than his opponents. None of the candidates, Wilson included, thinks that guarantees a victory.
Democrats, Republicans square off in race for 6th District seat currently held by Jeff Holy
Two Democratic candidates are looking to become a state representative in Washington’s 6th district. Republican Jeff Holy will leave his spot in the House this fall to pursue a bid for the state Senate. Two Democrats and two Republicans seek to replace him. The other 6th District seat is held by Republican Mike Volz, who faces a challenge from Kay Murano, executive director of the Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium.
McMorris Rodgers, Bonneau file for Congress
Number of Senate candidates continues to grow as other races fill out.
GOP candidate Virginia Graham files for House seat in 6th District
The northwest Spokane resident said she was inspired to run after working with Reps. John Ahern and Jeff Holy on state legislation that extended the statute of limitations for victims of child sexual abuse to report their trauma.
Democrats eye West Plains seats following departure of Sen. Michael Baumgartner
A trio of Democrats has filed for office in the state’s 6th Legislative district, which encompasses much of the West Plains. They’re spurred by Demcoratic victories in early contests and what appears to be a contested Congressional race in Eastern Washington, as well as a somewhat open field following the announced departure of Sen. Michael Baumgartner.