Torres Leads Galbraith in Senate District 8 Race

Nikki Torres holds an early lead over Gabe Galbraith in the Washington state Senate District 8 contest after the first count.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a single columned civic facade at distance under a pale horizon, with one flagpole, in navy and cream. — Nikki Torres led Gabe Galbraith in the first count for Washington's Senate District 8 on Tuesday, with 52% of ballots tallied so far against 46%. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Nikki Torres led Gabe Galbraith in the initial vote count for Washington state Senate District 8, with Torres receiving 14,268 votes, or 52% of ballots counted so far. Galbraith received 12,607 votes, or 46%, in Tuesday night's tally.

Why it matters

The race follows a redistricting map approved by a federal judge in 2024 that excluded Torres' home from the 15th District, forcing her to run in the newly drawn 8th District. Galbraith was accused of coordinating surveillance of an out-of-district house owned by Torres, a matter that has shaped the contest's final weeks.

The initial unofficial count showed Torres ahead 14,268 votes to 12,607 for Galbraith, or 52% to 46% of ballots counted so far. Additional ballots remain to be tallied, and the final result is not yet certified.

The players

Nikki Torres

Torres is a former Washington state senator for the 15th District who is running in the 8th District after redistricting.

Gabe Galbraith

Galbraith is a Kennewick School Board member and Republican candidate for the Washington state Senate District 8 seat.

Matt Boehnke

Boehnke is a Washington state senator whose vacated seat in the 8th District drew the candidates into the race.

The details

Torres previously served as state senator for the 15th District and secured $50 million in capital funding during that tenure. She moved to a home on Road 64 in Pasco earlier this year to run for the vacant seat of State Sen. Matt Boehnke, who did not seek re-election. A 21-year-old who worked with Galbraith and other Republicans was charged with gross misdemeanor stalking, though a jury found the defendant innocent; Galbraith was not charged.

2024: A federal judge approved a redistricting map excluding Torres' home from the 15th District.
April 29 and 30: Surveillance of an out-of-district house owned by Torres was reportedly conducted.
Earlier this year: Torres moved to a home on Road 64 in Pasco.
Tuesday night: The initial vote count showed Torres leading Galbraith.

Political Context

The contest was shaped by the 2024 federal court-approved redistricting map that removed Torres' home from the 15th District and placed her in the newly drawn 8th District. Opponents of Torres' candidacy argue the surveillance allegations against Galbraith's associates raise concerns about how the race was conducted.

The outcome determines who represents the 8th Legislative District, which covers Pasco, Kennewick, Richland, and West Richland in the Tri-Cities region. Voters in those communities will be represented in Olympia by whichever candidate is certified after the remaining ballots are counted.

The takeaway

Close counts in redistricted districts can hinge on late ballots, so readers should watch for updated tallies before drawing conclusions about the winner.