Spokane County, Washington

Spokane County District Court, Judge Position 2

2 candidates are tracked for Spokane County District Court, Judge Position 2 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Mike (Michael) Valerien and Deanna Kathleen Crull. Candidate information follows official Spokane County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Open seat decided November 3: sitting Position 2 judge Jeffrey R. Smith is not on the certified filing list, per the court's official roster, and this nonpartisan seat drew two filers so it does not appear on the August 4 ballot.

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels.

Washington › Spokane County › Spokane County District Court, Judge Position 2

Mike (Michael) Valerien

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Holding offenders accountable using evidence based strategies that reduce repeat offenses
Choosing case strategies that use public resources cost effectively
Following due process in every case to protect the rights of the accused

Per the campaign site.

Biography

A Spokane Municipal Court commissioner since 2016 who previously worked as an assistant city prosecuting attorney and Veterans Court prosecuting attorney, per his state voters' guide statement. He is an Air Force veteran and former emergency communications operator who also ran a small business, per the same statement, and holds a law degree from Gonzaga.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Deanna Kathleen Crull

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Court accountability paired with a focus on community safety
Effective therapeutic alternatives for qualified participants to reduce repeat offending
Professionalism, transparency and equal access to justice

Per her state voters' guide statement.

Biography

The Airway Heights court commissioner since 2020 and a pro tem judge in Spokane County District Court since 2019 who has owned her own law firm since 2009, per her state voters' guide statement. She previously prosecuted for the City of Spokane, Spokane County and the City of Ritzville and handled indigent defense in Adams County, per the same statement, and serves as president of the Northwest Tribal Court Judges' Association.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotSpokane County District Court, Judge Position 4

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Spokane County District Court, Judge Position 2 in 2026?

When is the Spokane County District Court, Judge Position 2 election in Washington?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Washington are on the Washington election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Spokane County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Spokane County and state election office filings, last verified September 29, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Washington election office, or see the full Spokane County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Spokane County ballot

29 tracked races in Spokane County, Washington. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Spokane County District Court, Judge Position 1 Spokane County District Court, Judge Position 3 Spokane County District Court, Judge Position 5 See all 29 Spokane County races

Candidate profiles

Mike (Michael) Valerien, full profile Deanna Kathleen Crull, full profile Official Washington election office