COLFAX — Incumbent state Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, held a wide lead over Democratic challenger Karina Wallace after the first day of counting in the Aug. 4 primary and, based on that early tally, appeared headed back to Olympia.
Schmick reported 16,339 votes (64.43%) in the race for Legislative District No. 9, Position No. 2, according to Franklin Connection’s account of the initial ballot count. Wallace had 8,975 votes (33.39%) — a margin of more than 29 percentage points.
That early split was nearly the same as Schmick’s 2024 result against Pam Kohlmeier, a Spokane Democrat, when he finished at 63.92% to her 35.94%, the same reporting noted.
District No. 9, as described in that coverage, includes southern Spokane, Whitman, Lincoln, eastern Adams, eastern Franklin and other counties.
Sources
- Franklin Connection — “Schmick leads Wallace,” Roger Harnack, last updated Aug. 5, 2026: https://www.franklinconnection.com/story/2026/08/04/news/schmick-leads-wallace/2678.html
