Kiepe and Hill Will Face Off for Spokane House Seat

The candidates will compete in November 2026 to represent Washington's 3rd Legislative District.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Political Parties

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Tony Kiepe and Natasha Hill will compete in the November 2026 election for the 3rd Legislative District seat in Spokane, Washington. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Tony Kiepe and Natasha Hill are set to compete in the November 2026 general election for the Washington state House seat representing the 3rd Legislative District, which includes most of Spokane. The race follows the retirement of longtime incumbent Timm Ormsby.

Why it matters

The election highlights divergent views on state spending and resource management, as the Washington state budget has grown from $30 billion to $80 billion over the past 15 years. Voters will decide between Kiepe’s focus on affordability and social policy or Hill’s regulatory approach to environmental and infrastructure issues.

Natasha Hill previously won the 3rd Legislative District by over 30 percentage points in 2024. Washington state's total budget has increased from $30 billion to $80 billion over the last 15 years.

The players

Tony Kiepe

He is a candidate for the Washington state House who recently attended a Republican midterm convention in Dallas.

Natasha Hill

She is the incumbent legislator seeking re-election to the Washington state House in the 3rd Legislative District.

Timm Ormsby

He is the retiring Washington state House representative currently vacating the 3rd Legislative District seat.

The details

Tony Kiepe has centered his campaign on repealing the Climate Commitment Act and restricting school facility access for transgender students to sex assigned at birth. Conversely, Natasha Hill has advocated for a temporary construction moratorium on West Plains data centers, citing concerns over water supplies for fire suppression.

Timeline

  1. The Washington state budget grew from $30 billion to $80 billion over the past 15 years.

  2. Natasha Hill won her previous election in 2024 by 30 percentage points.

  3. Tony Kiepe attended a Republican midterm convention in Dallas in September 2026.

  4. The general election for the Washington state House takes place in November 2026.

Political Context

Opponents of Tony Kiepe argue that repealing the Washington Climate Commitment Act would undermine essential environmental progress and state-level emissions goals. Supporters of Natasha Hill emphasize that her regulatory focus on infrastructure represents a necessary check on rapid regional development.

Residents in the 3rd Legislative District will see changes to regional development policy, including potentially stricter water usage rules for new industrial projects if Hill wins. Voters concerned with state tax burdens may see different legislative priorities regarding the $80 billion state budget depending on who secures the seat.

The takeaway

This race serves as a bellwether for how Spokane voters balance the need for infrastructure expansion against concerns regarding resource sustainability. Understanding the candidates' specific legislative agendas can help residents prepare for potential shifts in local zoning and state fiscal policies.

What happens next

The general election for the Washington state House seat is scheduled for November 2026.

Further reading

Learn more about local candidate platforms on the Political Parties section of our site.

Source note: This article includes information reported by The Spokesman Review.

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