Amboy resident Thomas Schenk offers his views on the challenge Republicans face in the Third Congressional District race.
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
Regarding a recent Opinion written by Mark Moore, I would like to offer an additional point for Republican Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs) and Republican voters to carefully and honestly consider.

Sadly, today we are saddled with what is typically called a “jungle primary”. No longer can we, as Republican voters, select our candidates for office, in this case the 3rd Congressional District, through the former Republican Primary process.
The Primary provided individuals interested in being a Republican candidate for office a process to put their names in front of Republican voters and, ultimately, one candidate would be selected to move on to the General Election to vie with a Democrat candidate and maybe several other minor party candidates, for, in this case the 3rd Congressional District.
We Republicans are now relegated, in my opinion, to using the “recognition and endorsement” process of the Clark County Republican Party (CCRP) as a de facto Republican Primary.
PCOs who vote to recognize or not recognize candidates have a similar effect as the former Republican Primary…a slate of candidates is winnowed down to one candidate to run as the Republican.
Unfortunately, this de facto Primary does not prevent an “unrecognized” candidate from continuing to run as a Republican thereby diluting our Republican votes and likely giving the elective office to the Democrat.
Republican PCOs and the potential Republican candidates need to accept this de facto Primary process; and when debate and discussion have concluded…and the votes of the PCOs have been counted, recognizing and endorsing one candidate to move forward to the “jungle primary” and to the General Election, we, as Republican voters, can unify behind that one candidate and take back the 3rd Congressional District.
Acceptance of this de facto Primary process by Republican PCOs, candidates and, ultimately, Republican voters, is necessary for success in retaking the 3rd Congressional District and the same holds true for any Republican seeking elective office.
Until the “Jungle Primary” is done away with in the State of Washington, we have no choice, in my opinion, but to “primary” our candidates via the recognition and endorsement process by the CCRP body.
Thomas Schenk
Amboy
Also read:
- Opinion: Vancouver’s new $30 rental fee will increase rents in the cityMark Harmsworth argues Vancouver’s new $30 rental unit fee will raise rents, discourage investment, and worsen affordability, urging the city to repeal the policy and pursue market-driven housing solutions.
- Opinion: The right speed to exitDoug Dahl of Target Zero explains that while exit-only freeway lanes follow the posted speed limit, drivers are legally required to reduce speed based on safety conditions as they approach offramps.
- Letter: It’s time for Vancouver to choose changeVancouver resident Michael Jelineo calls for new leadership in the city and voices his support for Justin Forsman in the mayoral race, urging others to back change.
- Opinion: ‘Vilifying broad swaths of Americans’Editor Ken Vance reflects on troubling posts by public defender Renee Alsept and shares a thoughtful perspective from longtime attorney Brad Andersen on ethics, discourse, and professionalism.
- POLL: Should the county update its Human Resources policy to include personal social media accounts of employees in sensitive roles?This week’s Clark County Today poll asks whether the county should update its Human Resources policy to include personal social media accounts of employees in sensitive roles, following concerns over online conduct.