OLYMPIA, WA – Two bellwether legislative races in Washington are drawing heavy spending early by private sector forces and the state Republican Party.
As of Monday, political committees funded largely by businesses had shelled out $330,000 on mailers, texts and digital ads opposing two appointed Democratic state senators: Deb Krishnadasan and Victoria Hunt. The groups hope Republicans can unseat both this fall.
Krishnadasan, who represents the 26th Legislative District, is up against Rep. Michelle Caldier, a veteran lawmaker. Hunt, who moved from the House to the Senate in the 5th Legislative District after the death of Bill Ramos, is facing former state lawmaker Chad Magendanz.
Those opposing the senators see the two contests as a barometer of whether voters think Democrats overreached this year with taxes. Democrats pushed through $9.4 billion of tax increases to shore up the state’s general fund and another $3.2 billion of hikes for transportation, anchored by a 6-cent per gallon bump in the gas tax.
The onslaught of negative campaign pieces — coming weeks ahead of the Aug. 5 primary — aims to highlight how the senators voted on taxes and other high-profile issues.
“We don’t need to wait. We can start changing hearts and minds throughout the summer and fall,” said Jim Walsh, chair of the state Republican Party.
Enterprise Washington, which advocates for pro-business policies in Olympia, is funneling money through its political committee, Jobs PAC, to separate committees in each race. The political committee has raised $305,000 this calendar year on top of $138,000 unspent from last year.
The largest contributions to Jobs PAC in 2025 have come from the Washington State Dental PAC and the Washington Hospitality Association. Other donors include Puget Sound Energy, Koch Industries, Chevron Corp., Associated General Contractors, the Washington Retail Association and Washington Realtors.
Some of the most significant tax increases legislators approved this year fall on businesses, and some Democrats wanted to go further and impose even heftier levies on large companies.
“This was a tough session for the business community, so it is not surprising that businesses would be participating aggressively this election cycle,” said Nathan Gorton, CEO of Washington Realtors, one of the larger donors to East King County Jobs, a political committee targeting Hunt.
The leader of the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee said the early attacks are needed to overcome negativity toward GOP candidates due to Republican President Donald Trump’s unpopularity in Washington.
“The conservative interests backing Republicans in these races know they’re facing tough headwinds. Which is why they are out early, relentlessly sending spam texts and overflowing mailboxes with negative attacks,” said Katy Ozog, executive director of the Washington Senate Democratic Campaign.
Krishnadasan, of Gig Harbor, is taking the heavier fire thus far, though she did vote against her party’s major tax bills and transportation revenue package. Sound Jobs, backed by Enterprise Washington, had spent $171,311 against her as of Monday.
“My district is the most competitive in the state, and I’m not surprised that Chevron and Koch Industries are spending big to mislead voters,” she said in a statement. “I am the only candidate in this race who will protect against President Trump’s damaging policies, not advocate for them, and that’s why these special interests are attacking me.”
Caldier, also of Gig Harbor, has not been the target of hit pieces. But those will come, she said, as Democrats are determined to hold onto their 30-19 majority in the Senate,
“I fully assumed I’d be attacked by now,” she said. “I have no intention of being nasty toward Deb at all. I am running to help save our state and that starts with ending the supermajority.”
Hunt, of Issaquah, won her House seat last November with 54% of the vote. She was appointed to the Senate after the session. Unlike her colleague, she did vote for the taxes, and her opponents sent four mailers in four days earlier this month to make that point. East King County Jobs has spent $161,000 against her.
Hunt, in a statement, pushed back on criticism of her tax votes.
“I’m proud of my vote for a budget that balanced billions in difficult cuts with key investments in education and health care. I’ll keep fighting for affordability, opportunity, and to safeguard our rights,” she said.
This story first appeared on Washington State Standard.
