| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Leonard Christian (R) | 53,660 | 64.40% |
| Miguel Valencia (D) | 29,666 | 35.60% |
* 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.
Education: Graduated from Ferris High School in 1984. Christian completed an associate degree from the College of the Air Force just before retiring from the military and went on to complete a degree in aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Graduated with a master's of business from Webster University.
Work Experience: Has worked as a real estate agent for Live Real Estate since 2014. Previously was a real estate agent for Windermere Real Estate and before that worked for Thomas and Black Real Estate. Christian was in the Air Force from 1984 to 2005, working many jobs, including aircraft mechanic and security specialist. He retired with the rank of master sergeant.
Political Experience: Elected to state House in 2022. Appointed to a seat in the Washington State Legislature in 2014 to fill the remainder of Larry Crouse's term. He lost primary election against Bob McCaslin Jr. to keep the seat in August 2014. Lost close election for Spokane County assessor in 2018. Is a founding member of Republicans of Spokane County and served as vice chairman and chairman of the organization.
Family: Married to Rima Christian and has two children.
Campaign fundraising: Raised more than $50,000 as of Oct. 1, 2024, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Contributions include a $6,000 cash loan to himself. Notable donors include Kaiser Aluminum; the Chevron Company; Avista; DoorDash; Max Kuney, owner of Kuney Construction and husband of Spokane County Commission Chair Mary Kuney; and the political action committees for the Associated General Contractors of the Inland Northwest, Koch Industries and the Washington Hospitality Association.
Education: Graduated from Othello High School in Othello, Washington, in 2017. Earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from St. Martin’s University while active duty in the Army. Currently attending Seattle University School of Law as a part-time student.
Work Experience: Works as a paralegal at Spokane law firm Witherspoon Brajcich McPhee and for the Army National Guard. Served in the U.S. Army from 2017 to 2020 working as a paralegal specialist. Has worked as a judicial assistant in Spokane County District Court and a compliance specialist for Valley-based company Kaspien.
Political Experience: First run for office. Is an at-large member of the Spokane County Democrats executive board and a Democratic precinct committee officer.
Family: Married to Yanette Valencia. Has two young children and another on the way.
Campaign fundraising: Has raised more than $13,000 as of Oct. 1, 2024, including a $1,111 cash donation to himself, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Notable contributors include the Kennedy Fund; the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council; Rebecca Chan, managing partner of the Seattle Foundation; Democratic congressional candidate Carmela Conroy; and $600 from the Washington Machinists Council.
There is little doubt what the top concern is of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle as they prepare to start Washington’s 2025 legislative session this week: solving the budget deficit.
Spokane and Spokane Valley voters helped the candidates favored to win in each of their respective state House and state Senate races breathe a sigh of relief Tuesday.
Voters in and around Spokane Valley are about to elect a new state senator for the first time in more than a decade, and the choice has come down to a pair of veterans from each of the major political parties.
Crowded fields or not, Spokane and Spokane Valley voters turned their state Legislature races into three-person heats with only two spots to secure in November’s general election.
It’s still unclear who Spokane and Spokane Valley voters will choose this November to represent them in the Washington State Legislature.
Voters have narrowed the crowded field of candidates vying for the three state Legislature positions representing Spokane Valley, but two races are still too close to call.
Candidates, cash and controversy are abundant in the race for a state Senate seat in eastern Spokane County.
The Spokane County Democrats are investigating a heated exchange during the June 7 Spokane Pride Festival between the party’s chair, Naida Spencer, and Natasha Hill, a local attorney, activist and interim editor of The Black Lens who is running for a state House position as a Democrat.
Spokane Valley’s Balfour Park consisted of little more than a grassy field, volleyball courts and a playground next to an adjacent vacant lot for years.
Candidate filing week has come to a close, bringing with it a few surprise last-minute candidates jumping into crowded and highly competitive races.
Spokane Valley Mayor Pam Haley is hoping to win a second public office.
