By Luisa Loi
Democrat Dave Paul, who currently holds the Position 2 seat in Washington’s 10th state House district, was leading with 60.61%, or 28,230 votes, in early returns Tuesday night. His opponent, Republican Tim Hazelo, had received 18,306 votes, or 39.30% as of Tuesday night.
The 10th legislative district includes the southwestern part of Skagit County, including La Conner and Swinomish, as well as all of Island County and northwest Snohomish County.
In an interview Tuesday night, Paul said he believes his win is part of a national Democratic wave.
“Folks are really frustrated with the level of corruption we’re seeing at the national level,” he said. “Democrats have to demonstrate that they can govern and keep the trust of voters.”
Paul is the director of community relations at Skagit Valley College and serves as the chair of the House Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee.
If he retains his seat, his priorities would include making funding for youth mental health permanent, working with schools to connect youths to summer employment opportunities, continuing to champion legislation ensuring workers earn a living wage appropriate for the area they live in, guaranteeing bargaining rights for unions, mandating better parental leave policies and more.
Hazelo, a truck driver who served in the military for two decades, is the former chair of the Island County Republican Party. In 2020, he unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Rick Larsen in the race for Washington’s 2nd congressional district; in 2022, he lost the race for Island County commissioner to Janet St. Clair.
Hazelo did not respond to a request for comment.
Luisa Loi is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.
