Senator
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Miguel Valencia (D) | 9,146 | 22.13% |
| Leonard Christian (R) | 8,876 | 21.48% |
| Mike Kelly (R) | 8,673 | 20.99% |
| Pamela Haley (R) | 5,306 | 12.84% |
| Al (Albert) Merkel (R) | 4,948 | 11.97% |
| Paige Scott (D) | 4,378 | 10.59% |
* 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.
Results by Precinct
About the Race
The Candidates
Miguel Valencia
- Party:
- Democratic
- City:
- Spokane, Washington
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.
Leonard Christian
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 59
- City:
- Spokane Valley, Washington
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.
Mike Kelly
- Party:
- Republican
- City:
- Spokane Valley, Washington
Education: Graduated from Parkrose High School in Portland, Oregon in 1982. Attended Mount Hood Community College and Brigham Young University for a total of two years.
Work experience: Serves as chief financial Ooficer for KT Contracting Company in Salem, Oregon. Owns Millennial Property Management in Keizer, Oregon; Millennial Capital Investors in Spokane Valley; and co-owns vehicle repair shop AMC Holdings in Salem, Oregon. Owns or co-owns real estate holding companies in Spokane Valley; Vancouver, Washington; Leonardtown, Maryland; and several around Keizer, Oregon. Has worked as a financial adviser and investment counselor, a paralegal, business consultant and a certified tax preparer. Once owned an insurance agency and a trucking company.
Political experience: Currently a Republican precinct committee officer. Was appointed to the Spokane Valley Planning Commission on March 26.
Family: Married to Kristi Kelly. Has three step-children and six grandchildren.
Campaign fundraising: Raised $58,612, including a $27,475 cash loan to himself, as of July 12. Top contributors include retirees Samuel and Janet Brown of Maryland; Portland-based trucking company All Classic Transportation; Karl Thatcher, husband of Oregon state Senator and KT Contracting founder Kim Thatcher; Portland-based real estate agents Greg and Blake Byzewski; and outgoing state Sen. Mike Padden and his wife Laura Padden, a Spokane Valley City councilwoman.
Pamela Haley
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 67
- City:
- Spokane, Washington
Education: Graduated from Central Valley High School in 1975. Graduated from Spokane Falls Community College and attended Eastern Washington University before transferring to Ashford University to complete bachelor's degree in organizational management and master’s degree in business with an emphasis in human resources. Also earned a master's degree in education from Capella University.
Work experience: Former manager of Valley Empire Collection. Has run day cares, including Rainbow Connection Daycare, for decades.
Political experience: Eight years on Spokane Valley City Council, in second term as mayor. Has served as a Republican precinct committee officer from 2020 to present.
Family: Married to Jim Haley.
Campaign fundraising: Raised $17,865, including a $1,200 cash loan to herself, as of July 12. Top contributors include Stacey and Troy Peterson, owners of High Voltage Capital; Elk residents Douglas and Christine Ranger, the later an educator in the Deer Park School District; Valley resident Will Resavage, legislative assistant to state Senator Jeff Holy; Tara Cannon, an administrator at Valley Empire Collection; and Vicki McCully, director of Rainbow Connection Daycare.
Al (Albert) Merkel
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 38
- City:
- Spokane Valley, WA
Education: Graduated from University High School in 2004. Graduated from Whitworth University in 2009 with bachelor’s degrees in mathematics, political science and economics.
Political experience: Unsuccessfully ran for Spokane Valley City Council in 2017 and 2019. Was elected to the city council in 2023, beating longtime Valley Councilman Arne Woodard. Serves as a Republican precinct committee officer.
Work experience: Co-owns Dee's Dog Grooming with his wife. Works as an emergency substitute teacher for the Central Valley School District. Was chief financial officer, and briefly, chief executive officer of Sequoia Detox Centers. Has worked for several companies and agencies as a contract specialist, including the Centene Corporation, the U.S. Agency for International Development, Chemonics International, Premier Management Corporation and Louis Burger.
Family: Married to Stephanie Merkel. Has one child.
Campaign Fundraising: Has raised a cumulative $1,171 as of July 12, comprised of $470 in small cash gifts and $701 of in-kind donations to himself.
Paige Scott
- Party:
- Democratic
- City:
- Spokane Valley, Washington
Education: Graduated from West Valley High School in 2006. Attended Spokane Falls Community College and transferred to American Military University. Took a break a few credits away from completing a bachelor's degree. Served in the National Guard in Massachusetts.
Work experience: Currently works part-time for Spokane County Fairgrounds, the Spokane Valley Exchange and serves as operations manager for Alltec Controls.
Political experience: First run for office.
Family: Married to Daryl Scott.
Campaign Fundraising: None reported, according to the Public Disclosure Commission.
Complete Coverage
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