Election 2025
—Primary Votes Count Big—Even When You Don’t Recognize the Names—
—Drainage Districts and Charter Commissions: Yes, It’s Time to Vote—
By Damon Townsend (July 29, 2025)
One week from today—August 5th—is Primary Election Day in the great state of Washington.
You might not have realized it if you weren’t looking. Sure, there are some yard signs out there—but they’re for offices that don’t usually make the news: Charter Review? Port Commissioner? Even a Cemetery Commissioner or two. There aren’t many TV ads, no presidential headlines, and no high-dollar ballot initiatives to shout about. But the decisions being made this week will shape your local government for years.
And if you don’t vote, someone else will gladly make those choices for you.
Here’s what’s really going on: across Washington, thousands of local races are on the ballot. If only one or two candidates filed for a position, that race skips this primary and heads straight to the general election. But if three or more filed? That’s where your ballot matters most—because only the top two move forward.
That means many of these races are being decided right now. The top two will go on. Everyone else gets eliminated. Some will never be on your November ballot. So if you're waiting for a later chance to weigh in, it may not come.
Among those raising awareness is a new political organization called Cascade Party. It’s made up of neighbors and professionals who believe in leaner local government, civic participation, and more transparency in budgeting. This year, Cascade is fielding a few candidates and supporting like-minded individuals from across the political spectrum who reflect these shared values.
We believe it shouldn’t take a civics degree to understand your ballot. And yet, here we are—trying to decode what a drainage commissioner does, or what it means to be on the Charter Review Commission. These are offices that impact your property tax rates, public services, zoning policies, even the structure of your local government. They can shift budgets, cut deals, or rewrite foundational rules—and they often do so quietly, with little public input.
This year, roughly 54% of races on the primary ballot have three or more candidates, which means they’re in active contention. The rest will wait for November. But the real surprise is how few people vote in August. In an election where turnout is hovering around 15%, your vote carries tremendous weight. You’re not just a number—you’re a deciding factor.
Cascade’s goal is to help voters like you make informed decisions. That includes easy access to voters’ guides, candidate comparisons, and district maps. But whether you vote for one of our candidates or not, we urge you to participate.
So yes, it’s August. Yes, the offices may sound obscure. But the outcome of this primary shapes your neighborhood, your schools, your safety services, and your tax bill. Don’t let it pass you by.
Read your pamphlet. Mark your ballot. Drop it off. It really is that simple.
Total local races on August primary ballot: 3,129
Races with only 1 or 2 candidates (skip primary): 1,431 (approx. 46%)
Races with 3+ candidates (decided in August primary): 1,698 (approx. 54%)
Pierce County Charter Review Commission positions: 35
Pierce CRC positions with 3+ candidates: 16 (on August ballot
Estimated statewide turnout as of July 28: 15.2%
I am running for Charter Review Commissioner in Pierce County, Washington—District 7, Position 3.
If you want to learn more about what a Charter County is and why this matters, see my previous article on LinkedIn.
Damon Townsend is a Cascade Party board Member, representing district 3/6. He has experience in government administration.