During a recent debate for the Washington Secretary of State position, incumbent Steve Hobbs and Republican challenger Dale Whitaker engaged in a robust discussion about the future of the state's election system. Hobbs, who has been in office since 2021, underscored his military background and experience as vital for addressing challenges like misinformation and cyber threats. Whitaker countered by labeling Hobbs a 'career politician' whose leadership has diminished voter trust and increased election costs. The candidates debated mail-in versus traditional voting methods, with Hobbs arguing for the efficiency of mail-in voting and Whitaker emphasizing the need for multiple voting options to enhance accessibility. They also disagreed on securing voter rolls, with Whitaker proposing cross-referencing with federal immigration records, which Hobbs dismissed.

Despite their differences, both candidates expressed a commitment to nonpartisan elections and opposition to ranked choice voting, highlighting critical issues facing Washington's electoral integrity as primary elections approach.