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Listen to the Consider This podcast from NPR. Good evening from the KUOW Newsroom. This is Seattle Now. I'm Paige Browning. Here

are today's top stories. It's Friday, August 9th.

The race for Washington Lands Commissioner does not usually get a lot of buzz.

Many voters don't even know what the position is. But Jeannie Lindsay explains in this year's

primary election and has a lot of people on the edge of their seats.

The Public Lands Commissioner leads the state's Department of Natural Resources, which includes

fire response and managing state forests. And this year, there's a chance two Republicans

in the race will win the primary and shut Democrats out from the general election.

We are not hitting the panic button yet, but... win the primary and shut Democrats out from the general election.

We are not hitting the panic button yet, but we are paying very close attention.

That's Stephen Reed, spokesperson for state Democrats.

So far, former Republican Congresswoman, Jamie Herrera Butler is leading with the most votes. In a tight race for second place,

Republican Sue Peterson and Democrat Dave Up the Grove. I'm Jeannie Lindsay in Olympia.

Turnout for the primary election in Washington stands at 40 percent today. It's about 13 percent

lower than the turnout at this point in the 2020 primary, the last presidential year.

At the county level, turnout is also about 40% in King and Snohomish counties, and 37% in Pierce.

...