Rob Chase and Rob Tupper compete for Spokane Valley state House seat

Republican incumbent Rob Chase and Democratic challenger Rob Tupper are running for a Washington state House seat representing Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake in the upcoming November election. The Republican-leaning legislative district has not sent a Democrat to Olympia since 1992. Chase led the August primary with 43% of the vote, while Tupper received 41%.

The two candidates offer contrasting platforms for the district. Chase is advocating for a proposal to split Washington into two autonomous regions within the state's existing boundaries, titled Puget Sound and Columbia. Under his concept, both regions would have their own governors, judges, and legislators while remaining a single state for federal elections. Chase argued the measure would ensure rural and Eastern Washington voices are represented, and he also wants to lower taxes, repeal the Climate Commitment Act, and support artificial intelligence data facilities.

Tupper opposed the regional division proposal, calling it impractical and arguing that Eastern Washington benefits from state tax revenue generated in Western Washington. If elected, Tupper plans to preserve the state tax on incomes above $1 million, expand access to universal healthcare, oppose data centers, and require civics education beginning in eighth grade. He also supports forest preservation, nuclear energy research, and using carbon credit revenue to reduce building energy consumption.