VOTER INTERESTS PROJECT: Candidate Watch – LD10 (End of Session Update)

Island County voters will see both State Representative positions for Legislative District 10 on the ballot this year. As of Jan. 17, 2022, four candidates have filed with the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) to run for these offices. Filing for with the PDC allows the candidate to begin fundraising; candidates will still have to file with the County Auditor or Secretary of State’s office during Filing Week, May 16-20, 2022.

Candidates are required to report campaign contributions, including in-kind contributions, within five business days of receipt. Expenditures must be reported on a monthly basis. Contributions, except from political party committees, are limited to $1,000 per election. Thus, an individual or organization may contribute $2,000 each election cycle: $1,000 for the primary, and $1,000 for the general election.

Unlike presidential campaigns, voters rarely see polling information on state legislative races. Fundraising can often be seen as a proxy indicator of how well a campaign is doing. While it is not true that the candidate with the most money wins, large financial disparities between candidates are often a predictor of electoral success.

UPDATE: Today, Mar. 10, is the last day of the 2022 legislative session. Incumbents are prohibited from fundraising while the legislature is in session (though not from spending money), but challengers are not. This marks a useful point to check back in on fundraising for the House candidates. Our last update on this topic was on January 17; current contributions and expenditures are noted below, including the change since January.

UPDATE 2: Ms. Gregorius has withdrawn for the campaign.

Position 1

Greg Gilday (incumbent), Republican from Camano Island, filed on January 10, 2021. Mr. Gilday started with $3,889.69 left over from his 2020 campaign, and has raised $70,442.00 since filing, bringing his total contributions to $74,331.69. He has spent $21,927.85 (an increase of $889.69). (See Mr. Gilday’s PDC filings.)

Ashley Gregorius, Democrat from Burlington, filed on May 17, 2021. Ms. Gregorius has raised $14,935.09 (up $3,319.92 since January) and has paid off $4,000 of the $10,000 she loaned her campaign, for a total of $21,615.17 (down $680.08). Her expenditures are listed as $20,807.75 (up $1,347.01). She also reports $826,92 in debts (which does not include the aforementioned loan). (See Ms. Gregorius’ PDC filings.)

Clyde Shavers, Democrat from Oak Harbor, filed on January 10, 2022. Mr. Shavers had not reported any funds raised or expended in January, but now reports $45,156.85 in contributions and $6,366.26 in expenditures and $1,344.67 in debts. (See Mr. Shavers’ PDC filings.)

Position 2

Dave Paul (incumbent), Democrat from Oak Harbor, filed on February 3, 2021. Mr. Paul carried $6,504.78 over from his previous campaign, and has raised $69,626.83 since filing, for total contributions of $76,131.61. His campaign reports expenditures of $6,269.55 (up $2,181.33). He also reports debts of $2,000. (See Mr. Paul’s PDC filings.)