Historic Skagit County Primary: Four Write-In Candidates Qualify for the November General Election Ballot
Four unopposed county races will be genuine contests this fall — a first in remembered Skagit County election history.
In the August 4, 2026 Primary Election, four write-in candidates each cleared the threshold required by Washington State law — receiving at least 1% of the total votes cast for their respective office — to have their names printed in the voter pamphlet and appear on the November 3, 2026 General Election ballot.
It is believed to be the first time in remembered Skagit County election history that four write-in candidates have qualified for the general election in a single cycle.
The four candidates advancing are:
- Cody Hart — Skagit County Sheriff
- Derrill Fussell — Skagit County Coroner
- Timothy Garrison — Skagit County Treasurer
- Amanda Toscano — Skagit County Clerk
Each of these four offices had drawn only a single name on the primary ballot, meaning Skagit County voters faced a selection rather than an election — one name per office, with no alternative. By organizing and casting write-in votes, Skagit County residents changed that outcome for all four races at once.
Countywide, the four write-in candidates' combined support approached 7% of the total primary vote for their respective offices — well above the 1% qualification threshold, and what organizers are calling a landslide affirmation that voters wanted a choice.
With the Primary results certified, Hart, Fussell, Garrison, and Toscano will all appear on the November 3, 2026 General Election ballot, giving Skagit County voters the opportunity to elect a Sheriff, Coroner, Treasurer, and Clerk from more than one option — a genuine election in all four races for the first time this cycle.
What's Next
Ballots for the General Election are expected to be mailed in mid-October 2026. Skagit County voters will need to fill in the oval next to a candidate's name in each of the four races — because these are candidates advancing to the general — and must mark their choice to have it counted.
