WA-SD03: Riccelli (D) faces surprise opponent on November ballot for central Spokane Senate seat
Democrat Marcus Riccelli was running unopposed to fill the Senate seat vacated by the retirement of Andy Billig on the August primary ballot, but a last-minute successful write-in campaign means he will now face Republican Jim Wilson in November.
Riccelli represented the Democrat-leaning 3rd Legislative District covering central Spokane in the House of Representatives for six terms after first being elected in 2012. Wilson, a Realtor, started serving as a Republican precinct committee officer two years ago but has no other political experience.
Riccelli was involved in politics long before he ran for office, working as the Eastern Washington director for U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell for three years and then serving for two years as a senior policy adviser to then-state Sen. Lisa Brown, who is now Spokane’s mayor.
Riccelli said he traces his interest in politics to his days at Gonzaga University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. His original intention was to work in business and make a lot of money, Riccelli said.
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/sep/15/riccelli-faces-surprise-opponent-on-november-ballo/