In 2004, Washington adopted a top-two primary system for most elections in the state, but the new primary law was struck down by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The 2007 election took place during the state's appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court,[1] which would ultimately result in a ruling upholding the primary system. As a result, separate party primaries were used in the 2007 election.
Incumbent Democratic County Executive Aaron Reardon ran for re-election to a second term. Though Reardon was originally set to face Republican County Sheriff Rick Bart in his bid for re-election,[2] Bart dropped out of the race on March 20, 2007, leaving Republicans without a backup candidate.[3] Entertainer Jack Turk ultimately ran for the nomination and won the Republican primary unopposed.[4]
Reardon defeated Turk in a landslide to win his second term, receiving 65 percent of the vote to Turk's 35 percent.[5]
