Democrat Terri Niles pulled ahead of two Republican contenders in the race to represent the 17th Legislative District, according to initial results in Tuesday’s primary election.
The recently redrawn district now extends from east Vancouver to the eastern edge of Skamania County.
District 17, Position 2
State Rep. Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, has held the 17th District, Position 2, seat since 2011 but now seeks the district’s Senate seat. (Because only two are running — Harris and Democrat Marla Keethler — both automatically advance to the general election.)
In the race to replace Harris, Niles had 12,204 votes, or 48.38 percent, as of Tuesday. Republican David Stuebe of Washougal had 6,796 votes (26.94 percent) and Republican Hannah Joy of Carson had 6,197 votes (24.56 percent), according to state primary results.
Niles has worked as an intensive care nurse for 20 years and in nursing administration for five. She is politically active in the community.
“I’m really encouraged with my results and the fact that voters are supporting me,” Niles said Tuesday night. “We worked really hard in this last campaign. We’ve been knocking on doors. We’ve been talking to voters.”
Niles’ campaign addresses fentanyl use and mental health, the need for accessible health and reproductive care and affordable housing among other issues, according to her website. And she’s the only candidate in the race advocating for abortion rights.
“We will keep reaching out to voters,” she said. “We’ll do some more outreach in our rural communities. I really want to hear from people, and I want to hear about what’s important to them.”
Stuebe, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel, was appointed to the Washougal City Council in March 2021. He won election to the council in November 2021.
The council appointed him mayor in September 2022.
His campaign focuses on advancing public safety, ensuring affordable housing and holding our state government accountable, according to his website.
“It’s all about solving problems. It’s great that these candidates want to be the solution, not the problem,” Stuebe said. “We are Americans. We have to come together.”
Joy currently serves as chair of the Developmental Disability Advisory Board, as Region 3 representative on the executive board of the state’s Republican Party and is a member of the Skamania County Republican Central Committee.
She’s also the former state director of operations for Let’s Go Washington, the organization behind six Republican-backed citizen initiatives that appeared before the Legislature this year.
Her campaign addresses lowering taxes to reduce the cost of living, growing small businesses to build the economy, solving homelessness and prioritizing education, according to her website.
Niles and Joy went head-to-head in 2022 for the 17th District Position 1 and lost to Waters, R-Stevenson.
Other 17th District races
Harris is running against Keethler, currently mayor of White Salmon, to succeed Republican Sen. Lynda Wilson, who is retiring.
Tuesday’s initial returns put Harris ahead at 12,711 votes (50.21 percent). Keethler had 12,561, or 49.62 percent, according to primary results.
Both candidates move on to the November general election.
Republican state Rep. Kevin Waters is running unopposed for the 17th District, Position 1.
