This week, we're looking at the special election in Washington’s 5th Legislative District, which covers Issaquah to Enumclaw.

State Sen. Victoria Hunt, a Democrat, was appointed to the seat and is running to keep her job this fall. 

Republicans think they could flip this district. They’d like to claw back a little power from Democrats, who currently hold majorities in both the state House and Senate.  

We talk with Sen. Victoria Hunt about her campaign. 

Guest

State Sen. Victoria Hunt, Washington's 5th Legislative District

Related Links

On The Ballot: Chad Magendanz, 5th Legislative District - KUOUW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

This week, we're looking at the&nbsp;special election in Washington&rsquo;s 5th Legislative District, which covers Issaquah to Enumclaw.
State Sen. Victoria Hunt, a Democrat, <a href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/06/04/replacement-chosen-for-washington-state-senator-who-died/">was appointed to the seat</a> and is running to keep her job this fall.&nbsp;
Republicans think they could flip this district. They&rsquo;d like to claw back a little power from Democrats, who currently hold majorities in both the state House and Senate.&nbsp;&nbsp;
We talk with Sen. Victoria Hunt about her campaign.&nbsp;
Guest
State Sen. Victoria Hunt, Washington's 5th Legislative District
Related Links
<a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/on-the-ballot-chad-magendanz-5th-legislative-district">On The Ballot: Chad Magendanz, 5th Legislative District - KUOUW</a>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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We talk to the Democratic incumbent in the state Senate race in Washington's 5th District, which spans Issaquah to Enumclaw.

On The Ballot: State Sen. Victoria Hunt, 5th Legislative District

Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan has hit a snag. 

The plan is the set of zoning changes that plans the city’s future growth – the current one in the works outlines a lot more housing density in the city. State law requires such a plan be in place, but Seattle’s has been delayed by administrative appeals from two groups.  

On Wednesday, we spoke with Seattle councilmember Eddie Lin about his proposal to eliminate one of the paths people have to appeal the plan under the State Environmental Policy Act. Jennifer Godfrey filed one of the appeals currently delaying implementation, and formed the group Orca Nexus, which is advocating for more environmental review of Seattle’s zoning changes. 

They claim the Comprehensive Plan’s Environmental Impact Statement did not fully evaluate the environmental impact of greater housing density on trees and runoff. They say removing trees will increase pollutants that could harm humans, salmon and especially endangered Southern Resident killer whales. 

Guest:

Jennifer Godfrey 

Related Links: 
Conservation Groups Join Push Against Seattle Growth Plan
This change will let Seattle address climate change, housing shortage
Seattle Poised to Remove SEPA Review Hurdle for Most Housing Projects
Residents and activists clash over plan to curb SEPA appeals at Seattle hearing

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Seattle&rsquo;s Comprehensive Plan has hit a snag.&nbsp;
The plan is the set of zoning changes that plans the city&rsquo;s future growth &ndash; the current one in the works outlines a lot more housing density in the city. State law requires such a plan be in place, but Seattle&rsquo;s has been delayed by administrative appeals from two groups.&nbsp;&nbsp;
On Wednesday, we spoke with Seattle councilmember Eddie Lin about his proposal to eliminate one of the paths people have to appeal the plan under the State Environmental Policy Act. Jennifer Godfrey filed one of the appeals currently delaying implementation, and formed the group Orca Nexus, which is advocating for more environmental review of Seattle&rsquo;s zoning changes.&nbsp;
They claim the Comprehensive Plan&rsquo;s Environmental Impact Statement did not fully evaluate the environmental impact of greater housing density on trees and runoff. They say removing trees will increase pollutants that could harm humans, salmon and especially endangered Southern Resident killer whales.&nbsp;
Guest:
Jennifer Godfrey&nbsp;
Related Links:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.theurbanist.org/conservation-groups-join-push-against-seattle-growth-plan/">Conservation Groups Join Push Against Seattle Growth Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/this-change-will-let-seattle-address-climate-change-housing-shortage/">This change will let Seattle address climate change, housing shortage</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.theurbanist.org/seattle-poised-to-remove-sepa-review-hurdle-for-most-housing-projects/">Seattle Poised to Remove SEPA Review Hurdle for Most Housing Projects</a></li>
<li><a href="https://komonews.com/news/local/residents-and-activists-clash-over-plan-to-curb-sepa-appeals-at-seattle-hearing-state-environmental-policy-act-city-council-action">Residents and activists clash over plan to curb SEPA appeals at Seattle hearing</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible!&nbsp;If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes </a>Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Housing is complicated, and residents care about it! Soundside heard from Jennifer Godfrey, who has filed an appeal which has delayed the city's implementation of the Comprehensive Plan.

Why a Seattle Symphony bassist started a fight with City Hall over housing density and orcas 

Hi friends, another weekend is upon us with PLENTY to go and see and do.

LINKS:
Timber! Outdoor Music Festival - Carnation, WA
4 Days Of Aloha - Vancouver, WA
Redmond Derby Days - Redmond, WA
Renton River Days - Renton, WA
Bite of Seattle - Seattle Center
Kaiser Permanente Seafair Torchlight Run 2026
Alaska Airlines Seafair Torchlight Parade 2026
SIFF Film Center - Horsegirls
CID Food Walk | Seattle Chinatown-International District
Summer 2026 - Urban Craft Uprising
Seattle Scottish Highland Games 2026
The Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire - Feast of Fools!

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Hi friends, another weekend is upon us with PLENTY to go and see and do.
LINKS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://timbermusicfest.com/">Timber! Outdoor Music Festival</a> - Carnation, WA</li>
<li><a href="https://www.4daysofaloha.com/">4 Days Of Aloha</a> - Vancouver, WA</li>
<li><a href="https://www.redmond.gov/1138/Derby-Days">Redmond Derby Days</a> - Redmond, WA</li>
<li><a href="https://www.rentonwa.gov/Government/Departments-and-Offices/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-and-Recreation-Events/Renton-River-Days">Renton River Days</a> - Renton, WA</li>
<li><a href="https://biteofseattle.com/">Bite of Seattle</a> - Seattle Center</li>
<li><a href="https://www.seafair.org/torchlight-run/">Kaiser Permanente Seafair Torchlight Run 2026</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seafair.org/torchlight-parade/">Alaska Airlines Seafair Torchlight Parade 2026</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.siff.net/cinema/in-theaters/horsegirls">SIFF Film Center - Horsegirls</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattlechinatownid.com/experiences/food-walk-series">CID Food Walk | Seattle Chinatown-International District</a></li>
<li><a href="https://urbancraftuprising.com/summer-2026/">Summer 2026 - Urban Craft Uprising</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.sshga.org/the-games/">Seattle Scottish Highland Games 2026</a></li>
<li><a href="https://washingtonfaire.com/weekend-themes/">The Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire</a> - Feast of Fools!</li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a> Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Another weekend brings with it another big selection of activities to go take part in! What will YOU get up to this weekend?

Soundside's Weekend Warmup: Derby Days, River Days, and HORSEGIRLS!

It’s a war of definitions, and Kalshi just lost a battle. On Monday, a King County Superior Court judge issued a preliminary injunction against the “prediction market” company. Judge John McHale found Washington state is likely to succeed in proving Kalshi is actually an online gambling site. Those are illegal here in Washington. The lawsuit was brought by Attorney General Nick Brown, who also scored another victory on Monday with a temporary pause on Paramount's acquisiton of Warner Brothers. 

Guest:

Attorney General Nick Brown

Related Links:

WA judge halts Kalshi ‘prediction market’ over state gambling laws

AG Brown, coalition temporarily block Warner Bros./Paramount merger as lawsuit proceeds

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

It&rsquo;s a war of definitions, and Kalshi just lost a battle. On Monday, a King County Superior Court judge issued a preliminary injunction against the &ldquo;prediction market&rdquo; company. Judge John McHale found Washington state is likely to succeed in proving Kalshi is actually an online gambling site. Those are illegal here in Washington. The lawsuit was brought by Attorney General Nick Brown, who also scored another victory on Monday with a temporary pause on Paramount's acquisiton of Warner Brothers.&nbsp;
Guest:
Attorney General Nick Brown
Related Links:
<a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/business/wa-judge-halts-kalshi-prediction-market-over-state-gambling-laws/">WA judge halts Kalshi &lsquo;prediction market&rsquo; over state gambling laws</a>
<a href="https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-brown-coalition-temporarily-block-warner-brosparamount-merger-lawsuit">AG Brown, coalition temporarily block Warner Bros./Paramount merger as lawsuit proceeds</a>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

On Monday, a King County Superior Court judge issued a preliminary injunction against the “prediction market” company Kalshi. 

On The Ballot: State Sen. Victoria Hunt, 5th Legislative District

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