Maggie Yates
A candidate for Spokane County Commissioner, District 5, Spokane County in the 2022 Washington Primary Election, Aug. 2
Party: Democratic
Age: 36
City: Spokane, Washington
Education: Graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 2006. Majored in cultural anthropology and international studies at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Has a law degree from UCLA.
Political experience: First run for office.
Work experience: Spent more than three years as Spokane County’s regional law and justice administrator, focusing on criminal justice reform. Worked for the Southern Poverty Law Center and the MacArthur Justice Center before working for Spokane County. Also worked for the Legal Aid Justice Center in Virginia.
Family: Married to Satish Shrestha.
Fundraising: Has raised nearly $177,000 as of Oct. 9, one of the highest totals in county history and more than any other candidate for county office this election cycle. Notable donors include multiple labor unions, Washington State Department of Commerce Director Lisa Brown, Spokane City Council President Breean Beggs, Spokane City Council members Lori Kinnear, Betsy Wilkerson and Zack Zappone, former Spokane County Public Defender Tom Krzyminski, the Spokane Tribe of Indians, Spokane City Prosecutor Justin Bingham, former Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart, local Planned Parenthood spokesman Paul Dillon, former Spokane County Commissioner Bonnie Mager, state Rep. Marcus Riccelli and state Rep. Timm Ormsby.
Contact information
Race Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Maggie Yates (D) | 13,590 | 44.56% |
| Al French (R) | 12,564 | 41.20% |
| Don A. Harmon (R) | 3,478 | 11.40% |
| Tara Carter (I) | 866 | 2.84% |
Related Coverage
Pints and Politics: Spokane County Commission debate
At the recent Pints and Politics event Oct. 6, 2022 at the Bing Crosby Theater, Spokane County Commissioner candidates, Al French and Maggie Yates debated the issues facing the District 5 seat on the newly expanded county commission. Jonathan Brunt, the Spokesman-Review’s Government Editor acts as moderator.
Democrat Yates looks to unseat Republican French in race that could shift balance of power on the Spokane County Commission
Whichever political party wins District 5 will likely win a majority on the county commission, the most powerful branch of Spokane County government.
French and Yates disagree on need for new county jail during Thursday debate
Spokane County Commissioner Al French, a Republican who is running to maintain a seat on the commission in the newly drawn 5th Commissioner District, faced his opponent, Democrat Maggie Yates, in a Thursday night debate.
Effort to improve voter turnout among inmates moving forward, despite opposition from Spokane County commissioners
Commissioners Josh Kerns and Al French rejected auditor Vicky Dalton’s request to get grant funding to improve voter turnout in Spokane County detention facilities.
Incumbent French dealt a blow after fellow Republican endorses his Democratic opponent
Republican Don Harmon, who was eliminated from the rac, has endorsed Democrat Maggie Yates in the race for Spokane County Commission District 5.
French trailing, but other Spokane County Commission incumbents cruise to general election
For the first time in history, voters this year are electing five Spokane County commissioners instead of three.
Haven’t yet voted in the primary election? Here’s what’s at stake in Spokane County
For those who liking waiting to the last minute to cast their ballots, here’s a look at the candidate field.
Three challengers hope to bring down Al French in race for Spokane County Commission District 5
French, who’s been an elected official for two decades, will try to fend off Maggie Yates, Tara Carter and former Airway Heights Mayor Don Harmon.
Former Spokane County criminal justice reform leader Maggie Yates to run against Commissioner Al French
Maggie Yates, a Democrat, spent the last four years leading the county’s criminal justice reform efforts before resigning in January.
Maggie Yates, the woman leading the region’s criminal justice reform efforts, resigns
Yates had been focusing on reducing Spokane County’s jail population and reducing racial disparities within the criminal justice system.