Candidate Filing

Running for public office is one of the best ways to turn your ideas into action. In November thousands of Americans like you will run for local elected offices, making a direct impact on their community.
 

 

Candidate filing for races in 2019 will be May 13-17.

 

 
 
We are working on the 2019 Candidate and Measures Guidelines book. In the meantime, the 2018 Candidate and Measures Guidelines book is available for download (32 pages, 1 MB) and in print at the Kitsap County Auditor's Office - Elections Division, 619 Division Street, Port Orchard, WA 98366. Much of the information in there will be useful as you plan your campaign.
 
Learn about the Public Disclosure Requirements. Most candidates are required to file financial documents with the Public Disclosure Commission.
 

Deadlines for Districts Considering Ballot Measures

Districts placing measures on 2019 ballots must meet the following deadlines for filing resolutions with the Kitsap County Auditor's Office - Elections Division. Obtaining Voter Data and Election Results. Information that may be useful to candidates and campaigns. 

2019 Election Date Deadline for Resolution Ballots Mailed By
February 12, 2019 ​December 14, 2018 ​January 25, 2019
​April 23, 2019 ​February 22, 2019 ​April 5, 2019
​August 6, 2019
 ​May 10, 2019
 July 19, 2019
​November 5, 2019
 ​August 6, 2019 ​October 18, 2019
​February 11, 2020​December 13, 2019​January 24, 2020

Lot Draw 

RCW 29A.36.131 specifies that the order of candidates on the Primary ballot is determined by lot draw. At 4:30 p.m. on the Friday of filing week, the Kitsap County Auditor's Office - Elections Division draws lettered tiles to create the ballot order for races.
 
The 2019 ballot will include City, School District, Fire District, Port District, Sewer District, Utility District, Water District and Park and Recreation District contests.
 
Make sure you read the Political Sign Regulations PDF (1 page, 58 KB). 
Washington State Department of Transportation political sign regulations for state highways.
  

2018 Offices and Positions Open for Filing (2019 races coming soon.)
 

 Federal (partisan)

Candidates file with the Washington Secretary of State.

​Office ​Incumbent ​Filing Fee ​Term
​U.S. Senate ​Maria Cantwell - D ​$1,740.00 ​6 years
​U.S. House of Representatives, 
Congressional District 6		 ​Derek Kilmer - D ​$1,740.00 ​2 years

 

 State Legislature (partisan)

Find your Legislative District.

Legislative District 23​ ​

Candidates file with the Washington Secretary of State or the Kitsap County Auditor
​Office ​Incumbent ​Filing Fee ​Term
​State Representative, Position 1 ​Sherry V. Appleton - D ​$477.76 ​2 years
​State Representative, Position 2 ​Drew Hansen - D
 ​​$477.76 ​​2 years
​ ​ ​ ​

Legislative District 26​ ​ ​ ​

Candidates file with the Washington Secretary of State
​Office ​Incumbent ​Filing Fee ​Term
​State Senator ​Jan Angel - R ​$477.76 ​4 years
​State Representative, Position 1 ​Jesse Young - R ​$477.76 ​2 years
​​State Representative, Position 2 ​Michelle Caldier - R ​$477.76 ​2 years
​ ​ ​ ​

Legislative District 35​ ​ ​ ​

Candidates file with the Washington Secretary of State
​Office ​Incumbent ​Filing Fee ​Term
​​State Senator ​Tim Sheldon - D ​​$477.76 ​​4 years
​​State Representative, Position 1 ​Dan Griffey - R ​​$477.76 ​​2 years
​​​State Representative, Position 2 ​Drew C. MacEwen - R ​​$477.76 ​​2 years

 

 County (partisan)

 Candidates file with the Kitsap County Auditor
​Office ​Incumbent ​Filing Fee ​Term
​County Commissioner District 3
County Commissioner District Map		 ​Ed Wolfe - R ​$1,327.47 ​4 years
​Assessor ​Phil Cook - R ​$1,268.90 ​​4 years
​Auditor ​Dolores Gilmore - D ​​$1,268.90 ​​4 years
​Clerk ​Alison H. Sonntag - D ​​$1,268.90 ​Short and full 4-year term
​Coroner ​Greg Sandstrom - R ​​$1,268.90 ​​4 years
​Prosecuting Attorney ​Tina R. Robinson - R ​$1,691.87 ​​4 years
​Sheriff ​Gary Simpson - D ​$1,353.49 ​4 years​
​Treasurer ​Meredith R. Green - D ​​$1,268.90 ​4 years​

 

 Washington Supreme Court (nonpartisan)

Candidates file with the Washington Secretary of State

​Office ​Incumbent ​Filing Fee ​Term
​Justice Position 2 ​Susan Owens ​$1,866.81 ​6 years
​​Justice Position 8 ​Steve Gonzalez ​​$1,866.81 ​​6 years
​​Justice Position 9 ​Sheryl Gordon McCloud ​​$1,866.81 ​​6 years

 

 Washington Court of Appeals, Division 2, District 2 (nonpartisan)

Candidates file with the Washington Secretary of State

​Office ​Incumbent ​Filing Fee ​Term
​Judge Position 2 ​Thomas Bjorgen ​$1,777.08

​​​6 years

 

 Kitsap County District Court (nonpartisan)

 Candidates file with the Kitsap County Auditor.
​Office ​Incumbent ​Filing Fee ​Term
​District Court Judge Department 1 ​Claire A. Bradley ​$1,610.92 ​4 years
​​District Court Judge Department 2 ​Jeffrey J. Jahns ​​$1,610.92 ​​4 years
​​District Court Judge Department 3 ​Marilyn G. Paja ​​$1,610.92 ​​4 years
​​District Court Judge Department 4 ​Kevin P. Kelly ​​$1,610.92 ​​Short and full 4-year term

 

 Kitsap County Public Utility District (nonpartisan)

Candidates file with the Kitsap County Auditor. Map of KCPUD PDF (1.93 MB)
​Office ​Incumbent ​Filing Fee ​Term
​Commissioner District 3 ​Lloyd S. Berg ​$198.00 ​6 years

  

 PCOs (Each party elects one person per precinct.)

​Go to the Kitsap County Elected Officials Page to see the list of all incumbents. ​
All PCO positions are 2-year terms.  

 

Here are some useful links

 

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2019 Candidate Filing Dates

 
  • May 13-17 - Candidate Filing Week
  • May 20 - Deadline to withdraw
  • Before the Primary (dates TBD) - Special filing period for races with no candidates
  • July 18 - Deadline to file for free as a write-in candidate in the Aug. 6 Primary