Voters in the state Legislature’s 40th District will find an extra — and perhaps unexpected — name on their general election ballot.
Rep. Debra Lekanoff was unopposed on the Aug. 2 primary ballot but faces a challenger in the Nov. 8 election in Republican Shannon Perkes.
Perkes declared her candidacy as a write-in candidate during primary election season and exceeded the minimum 1% vote total needed to have her name printed on the November ballot. Perkes received 615 votes out of 36,487 cast, or 1.69%.
Perkes also is listed in the state Voters’ Pamphlet, which describes her as a lifelong Skagit County resident who graduated from Sedro-Woolley High School. Perkes, who lives between Mount Vernon and La Conner, said in the pamphlet she would bring a much-needed “rural voice” to Olympia.
Perkes did not return a phone call seeking comment.
During her two terms in the state House, Lekanoff has focused on climate change, women’s rights and labor rights, among other issues, according to the Voters’ Pamphlet.
Lekanoff’s campaign has maintained a relatively low-key fundraising effort thus far, receiving $68,420 in donations, according to the Public Disclosure Commission. Perkes has filed with the PDC but had no reported contributions as of Oct. 25.
