July 2026 District Survey: Washington's 1st Congressional District
A new Independent Center Voice & Independent Leadership Council survey of Washington's 1st Congressional District, conducted ahead of the August 4 primary, finds Democrat Susan DelBene favored while independent James Etzkorn remains largely unknown to voters.
A new survey finds Democratic Rep. Susan DelBene favored heading into the primary, while an independent contender remains largely unknown to voters ahead of the August 4 primary.
The Big Picture
Polling of 777 likely voters in Washington's 1st Congressional District, conducted ahead of the state's August 4 top-two primary, shows Democrat Susan DelBene with a clear favorability advantage over Republican Mary Silva, while independent James Etzkorn remains largely unknown. Even so, district voters expressed some of the strongest cross-partisan sentiment recorded in this survey series.
Zooming In
A Favorability Gap at the Top
DelBene holds 46% favorability against 26% unfavorable, while Silva's numbers sit at 20% favorable and 11% unfavorable, with 41% saying they've never heard of her. Etzkorn, the district's independent contender, remains the least known of the three, with 55% of voters unfamiliar with him.
Strong Demand for Bipartisanship
Eighty-three percent of district voters view a politician willing to work with both sides of the aisle favorably, one of the highest ratings recorded in this survey series, and 70% say electing a few independents could provide a stabilizing voice in Washington.
Frustration with Washington Persists
Just 17% of voters approve of Congress's job performance, and 81% rate the health of American democracy as unhealthy, mirroring sentiment seen across other districts polled this cycle.
Data Snapshot
Party identification: 42% Democrat, 32% independent, 25% Republican
Favorability of a politician willing to work with both sides: 83%
Independent Lens
With the August 4 primary approaching and name recognition still developing for both Etzkorn and Silva, WA-01 voters' appetite for bipartisan leadership may matter more once the field narrows to a two-candidate general election.
