Primary election 2025: Mayhew and Ross lead for Snoqualmie mayor

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Early results from the Aug. 5 King County primary election show Jim Mayhew (37.15%) and incumbent Katherine Ross (32.94%) in the lead for the position of Snoqualmie mayor.

Snoqualmie had four candidates for mayor in this primary election: Marcus Johnson (22.4%), Matthew Mullvain (7.44%), Ross and Mayhew. In November’s general election, residents will choose between Mayhew and Ross.

Mayor Katherine Ross began her first term in 2022 after serving in several other positions with community boards, committees and associations. She also served on Snoqualmie City Council for five years. Her full list of accomplishments can be found on her campaign website.

Mayhew ran for Washington State Senate District 12 last year and lost the general election. He is a former Snoqualmie City Council member.

Johnson is a local resident who works for the Bellevue city manager as the strategic advisor and diversity, equity and inclusion outreach and engagement administrator. He is also a member of the faculty and the Core Course Coordinator at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business.

Mullvain is a Snoqualmie local who works in electrical engineering. According to his election website, he spends free time volunteering around the community with his family.

Several other Snoqualmie Valley positions are up for election this year, but were not included in the primary. To see the complete list, go to valleyrecord.com.

King County Executive

For the primary race narrowing the competition for King County Executive, the two expected front-runners have made it through.

Girmay Zahilay received 40.39% of the vote and Claudia Balducci received 30.2% of the vote.

Other candidates included Derek Chartrand, Bill Hirt, Amiya Ingram, Don L. Rivers, Rebecca Williamson.

John Wilson was still listed on the ballot as a candidate, but ended his campaign after being arrested due to an investigation into stalking and harassing his former domestic partner.

King County Parks Levy (Prop. 1)

Early results show voters approving the King County Parks Levy at 70.09%.

The King County Parks, Recreation, Trails, and Open Space Levy is a not a new tax, but a replacement for the expiring parks levy. Voters first approved the levy in 2008, and have renewed it every eight years.

The new tax rate would be 23 cents per $1,000 in assessed property value for six years. For the average King County homeowner with $844,000 in assessed property value, the annual bill comes out to $194, or about $16 a month.

The proposed tax rate is higher than the levy voters approved in 2019, which was a little more than 18 cents per $1,000 assessed property value. Supporters note that the cost difference is about $3.50 a month.

King County expects to collect more than $1.45 billion over the six years of the levy to support more than 250 parks, 185 miles of regional trails, 215 miles of backcountry trails, and 32,000 acres of open space. Levy revenue makes up about 85% of the department’s budget.

FYI

Voters can track their ballot to see if it has been counted yet, check their voter registration and more by going to https://info.kingcounty.gov/kcelections/vote/myvoterinfo/.

See all King County primary election results here: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/elections/results/2025/august-primary-election