Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Jayapal wins Washington primary; faces Sheth in November election
In the United States, people vote for lawmakers who help make rules.
An election happened in a place called Washington state.
Two people named Pramila Jayapal and Nirav Sheth both wanted to win.
Jayapal got many more votes than Sheth, so she won the first round.
Sheth came in second place.
In this state, the top two vote-getters move on to the big race.
So now Jayapal and Sheth will compete again in November.
Jayapal has been a lawmaker since 2016 and was the first South Asian American woman elected to the House of Representatives.
Sheth used to be a Marine and a police officer, and he also ran businesses.
Sheth says the current government is not doing a good job, and that is why he is running.
Pramila Jayapal won 83.3% of the votes in Washington's 7th district all-party primary, with Nirav Sheth a distant second at 10.8%.
The Associated Press called the race with 53% of the votes counted.
Washington state's open primary advances the top two finishers, both Indian-Americans, to the November general election for the US Congress.
Jayapal, 60, was the first South Asian American woman elected to the House in 2016 and is Chair Emerita of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Sheth, 40, a former US Marine aircraft mechanic and police officer, entered politics in 2023 after break-ins at his businesses and calls the current administration 'a complete failure.'
- Who
- Pramila Jayapal (incumbent Democrat) and Nirav Sheth (Republican), two Indian-Americans competing for Washington's 7th congressional district.
- What
- Jayapal won the all-party primary with 83.3% of the vote; the top two finishers will face off in the November election to the US Congress.
- When
- The all-party primary was held on Tuesday (article dated Aug 5); the general election is in November.
- Where
- Washington state's 7th congressional district, covering Seattle and surrounding areas.
- Why
- Sheth entered politics out of frustration with the current administration and repeated break-ins at his businesses; Jayapal seeks re-election in the predominantly Democratic district.
Progressive Democratic view
Republican challenger view
Assessment of the current administration
Progressive Democratic view
Jayapal, backed by Bernie Sanders, is a powerful progressive leader on Capitol Hill and Chair Emerita of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which represents nearly 50% of the Democratic caucus.
Republican challenger view
Sheth says the current administration is 'a complete failure' and that his campaign is driven by 'all this stupidity we're dealing with.'
Reason for entering the race
Progressive Democratic view
As the incumbent, Jayapal seeks another term, having won the overwhelmingly Democratic district continuously since 2016.
Republican challenger view
Sheth, a former police officer, took the political plunge in 2023 after being fed up with break-ins at several of his businesses in Washington state.
- Primary result
- Pramila Jayapal 83.3%, Nirav Sheth 10.8%
- Candidates
- Pramila Jayapal (Democrat, incumbent) vs Nirav Sheth (Republican)
- District
- Washington's 7th congressional district, covering Seattle and surrounding areas
- Jayapal background
- Born in Chennai on Sept 21, 1965; first South Asian American woman elected to the House in 2016
- Sheth background
- Born in Ahmedabad; US Marine aircraft mechanic (2011); former Lakewood, Washington police officer
- Jayapal age
- 60
- Sheth age
- 40
- Next election
- November general election to the US Congress