Washington’s second election of 2025 will fall in the heat of midsummer, on Aug. 5 in counties across the state. Next month’s primary and special elections will cover a variety of local positions and measures, and they include some contentious contests that could hinge on voter turnout.

Mayors

Southwest Washington residents will vote in primary elections for mayoral candidates in Stevenson and Ilwaco, and will decide on the fate of current Longview Mayor Spencer Boudreau, who is seeking a second term.

In Stevenson, mayoral candidate and current city councilor Lucy Lauser has been at the center of a controversy over her arrest while protesting for transgender rights. Lauser is trans and was arrested July 4 while protesting topless in downtown Stevenson. She was charged with indecent exposure, according to Gorge news outlet Uplift Local. The drama led to an active recall effort against Lauser.

In Longview, current Mayor Spencer Boudreau is one of four members of the council being sued by three residents who allege the elected officials violated state open meetings rules. The lawsuit dates back to March 2024, when the group fired former City Manager Kris Swanson without cause. Boudreau is running for a councilor seat since the city of Longview council appoints a mayor from its ranks. Boudreau was first appointed mayor in January 2024. His term lasts through the end of the year.

Public safety

The small Columbia Gorge town of Bingen will vote on a levy to continue funding fire and police services. In Pacific County, the South Beach Regional Fire Authority will ask voters to restore funding for emergency medical services with a property tax levy.

Libraries

Funding the Fort Vancouver Regional Library district will be on the ballot in a special election in Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania and Klickitat counties. If voters reject the property tax levy, library services will be decreased by 30% across the district’s 15 branches.

These jurisdictions in Southwest Washington will be asking voters for support during a time when officials are trying to pull the state out of a deep budget hole. During the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers passed a variety of tax increases to help address a multibillion deficit in the state.

Turnout for small, off-year elections are often low. During the last non-presidential primary in Washington in August 2023, turnout was just 29%. Slightly more voters cast ballots in the November general election that year, when turnout was 37%. Such small participation numbers mean that those who do vote have an outsized impact on the result.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/07/17/washington-politics-election-ballot-mayor-stevenson-ilwaco-boudreau/