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State Senator, 8th Legislative District

Vote for
1
Term
4 years
Candidates
2
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state senator votes on Washington laws and the state budget and confirms many of the Governor's appointments.

Photo of Nikki Torres
Nikki TorresWashington Secretary of State, Online Voters' Guide

Nikki Torres

Prefers Republican Party

State Senator (15th District)

The gist

  • Secured over $500 million in regional capital funding.
  • Supports law enforcement.
  • Supports protecting agricultural and energy jobs.
  • Sponsored a law updating school panic-button emergency systems.In office
  • Sponsored a law changing irrigation district elections.In office
  • Voted against the 2026 tax on income over $1 million.In office
  • Voted against the 2025 law limiting residential rent increases.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Nikki
View sources (6)
  1. Secured over $500 million in regional capital funding.

    Candidate statement, Online Voters' Guide, November 3, 2026 General Election

    Provided by the campaign · Washington Secretary of State (statement written by the candidate) · voter.votewa.gov

    “securing more than $500 million in capital funding for infrastructure, public safety, and community projects across our region”
  2. Supports law enforcement.

    Candidate statement, Online Voters' Guide, November 3, 2026 General Election

    Provided by the campaign · Washington Secretary of State (statement written by the candidate) · voter.votewa.gov

    “I am especially proud of my work to support law enforcement and to protect public safety”
  3. Supports protecting agricultural and energy jobs.

    Sen. Nikki Torres announces run in 8th legislative district following redistricting

    News coverage · Yakima Herald-Republic · yakimaherald.com

    “protecting agricultural and energy jobs”
  4. Sponsored a law updating school panic-button emergency systems.

    SB 5004, Updating emergency response systems in public schools including panic or alert buttons (2025-26 biennium): bill summary

    Government record · Washington State Legislature · app.leg.wa.gov

    “Updating emergency response systems in public schools including panic or alert buttons.”
  5. Sponsored a law changing irrigation district elections.

    SB 5669, Concerning irrigation district elections (2025-26 biennium): bill summary

    Government record · Washington State Legislature · app.leg.wa.gov

    “Concerning irrigation district elections.”
  6. Voted against the 2026 tax on income over $1 million.

    Roll calls on SB 6346 (2025-26), Establishing a tax on millionaires

    Government record · Washington State Legislature · Senate, Final Passage as Amended by the House, 03-11-2026, "Voting nay" list · app.leg.wa.gov

    “Muzzall, Schoesler, Short, Torres, Wagoner”
  7. Voted against the 2025 law limiting residential rent increases.

    Roll calls on EHB 1217 (2025-26), limiting residential rent and fee increases

    Government record · Washington State Legislature · Senate, Final Passage as Recommended by Conference Committee, 04-27-2025, "Voting nay" list · app.leg.wa.gov

    “Schoesler, Shewmake, Short, Torres, Wagoner”
Photo of Gabe Galbraith
Gabe GalbraithWashington Secretary of State, Online Voters' Guide

Gabe Galbraith

Prefers Republican Party

Kennewick School Board president; Hanford security specialist

The gist

  • Supports fully funding police and sheriffs.
  • Opposes shifting authority from elected sheriffs to the state.
  • Opposes breaching the Lower Snake River dams.
  • Supports nuclear power in an all-of-the-above energy strategy.
  • Proposes reducing taxes, fees and regulations.
  • Supports public hearings on citizen initiatives.
  • Supports keeping education decisions local.
More about Gabe
View sources (1)
  1. Supports fully funding police and sheriffs.

    Issues — Gabe Galbraith for State Senate

    Campaign website · gabeforwa.com

    “I will fight to ensure law enforcement is fully funded and has the resources, training, and support needed to do the job safely and effectively.”
  2. Opposes shifting authority from elected sheriffs to the state.

    Issues — Gabe Galbraith for State Senate

    Campaign website · gabeforwa.com

    “I oppose efforts to strip authority from elected sheriffs and shift that power to unelected state bureaucrats.”
  3. Opposes breaching the Lower Snake River dams.

    Issues — Gabe Galbraith for State Senate

    Campaign website · gabeforwa.com

    “I will continue to oppose efforts to breach the Lower Snake River dams and fight to keep this vital infrastructure in place.”
  4. Supports nuclear power in an all-of-the-above energy strategy.

    Issues — Gabe Galbraith for State Senate

    Campaign website · gabeforwa.com

    “An all-of-the-above energy strategy that includes nuclear is essential to keeping power reliable, prices affordable, and Washington competitive.”
  5. Proposes reducing taxes, fees and regulations.

    Issues — Gabe Galbraith for State Senate

    Campaign website · gabeforwa.com

    “I'm fighting to reduce taxes, fees, and regulations that drive up the cost of housing, fuel, child care, and everyday necessities”
  6. Supports public hearings on citizen initiatives.

    Issues — Gabe Galbraith for State Senate

    Campaign website · gabeforwa.com

    “Initiatives backed by hundreds of thousands of signatures deserve public hearings and serious consideration.”
  7. Supports keeping education decisions local.

    Issues — Gabe Galbraith for State Senate

    Campaign website · gabeforwa.com

    “keeping education decisions local, not dictated by one-size-fits-all mandates from Olympia”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 8 issues covered in this race.