By Lindsay Peyton

Ballots are in the mail for the primary election, and drop boxes are open July 19 for those eager to vote for their selections.

Election day is slated for Tuesday, Aug. 7, and there are a number of candidates running for seats on the west side.

Legislative districts 33, 34 and 36 have contested seats, as do congressional districts 7 and 9.

Legislative district 33, which serves east Burien, Normandy Park, SeaTac and Des Moines. Incumbent Tina Orwall, D-position 1, is running uncontested. Republican Anthony Lamb is challenging Mia Gregerson (D) for position 2.

The district’s current state senator Karen Keiser (D) is challenged by Kun Wang, Republican, and Charles Schaefer, Libertarian.

The 34th legislative district, which includes West Seattle, White Center, Burien and Vashon Island, is currently represented by State Senator Sharon Nelson (D), who will retire at the end of her term.

Democratic candidates running for the seat include Joe Nguyen, Sofia Aragon, Shannon Braddock, Lem Charleston, Lois Schipper, Annabel Quintero and Lisa Ryan Devereau.

Also running are Republicans Courtney Lyle and Darla Green and Independents Debi Wagner and Hilary Shaw.

Legislative district 34’s current representatives Eileen Cody (D), position 1, and Joe Fitzgibbon (D), position 2 are both running uncontested.

Legislative district 36, covering Ballard, is served by state senator Reuven M. Carlyle (D), who is being challenged by Libertarian Bryan Simonson.

Incumbent representative Noel Frame D-position 1 is running against Libertarian Sydney Gillman Wissel, while incumbent Gael Tarleton D-position 2 is challenged by Libertarian Matt Dubin.

Congressional district 7, which includes Ballard, West Seattle, Burien and Normandy Park, is currently represented by Pramila Jayapal (D-Seattle). She is running against Republican Craig Keller.

Congressional district 9, which includes Des Moines and SeaTac, is currently represented by Adam Smith (D-Bellevue). He is running against Democrat Sarah Smith and Republican Doug Basler.

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D) is running for re-election and has 29 challengers, including Democrats Clint R. Tannehill, Don L. Rivers, George H. Kalberer and Mohammad Said.

Republicans running are Joey Gibson, GoodSpaceGuy, Susan Hutchinson, Tim Owen, Matthew D. Heines, Art Coday, John Orlinski, Keith Swank, RC Smith, Roque De La Fuente, Dave Bryant, Matt Hawkins and Glen Stockwell.

Also running for the position are independents Thor Amundson, Dave Strider, Charlie R. Jackson, Jennifer Gigi Ferguson and Jon Butler, as well as Brad Chase from the FDFR Party, Sam Wright from the Human Rights Party, Alex Tsimerman from the StandupAmerica Party, Steve Hoffman from the Freedom Socialist Party, James Robert Deal from the Green Party and Libertarian Mike Luke.

The two candidates who receive the most votes will advance to the general election on

Nov. 6. Washington is the first state in the U.S. to establish a top two primary system, instead of a party-nominating system.

The list of final candidates on the November ballot will be available by Sept. 7.

For more information, visit www.kingcounty.gov.