Spokane County, Washington

Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney

2 candidates are tracked for Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Preston McCollam and Danny Tarkenton. Candidate information follows official Spokane County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

August 4 top-two primary: Preston McCollam 50.9 percent, Danny Tarkenton 49.1 percent, per the county's official results. Both a short unexpired term and a full four-year term are on this ballot because Larry Haskell resigned in July 2025, per the county's own announcement. Washington's August 4, 2026 top-two primary sent the two leading candidates to the November 3 ballot regardless of party; the field shown is the Secretary of State's VoteWA general-election list.

What this office does

District attorney or prosecutor. The district attorney is the chief prosecutor for the county or judicial district. The office decides which criminal charges to file, negotiates pleas, tries cases and, in many states, advises county government or handles child support and juvenile matters. The office sets local charging and diversion policies within state law.

This race. Four-year term. The sitting officeholder, Preston McCollam, is on the ballot.

Washington › Spokane County › Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney

Preston McCollam

Republican Incumbent

Top priorities

Prioritizing violent crime, drug trafficking and crimes against children
Centering crime victims in prosecutorial decisions
Close working relationships with law enforcement agencies

Per the campaign site.

Biography

The sitting prosecuting attorney, sworn in as interim on a unanimous 5 to 0 commission vote in 2025, per the county's own announcement. He had been with the office for a decade and was named head of its criminal division in 2023, and he previously served as a Benton County deputy prosecutor, per that announcement and his state voters' guide statement. He taught trial advocacy as an adjunct at Gonzaga's law school from 2015 to 2022, per the same statement.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Danny Tarkenton

States No Party Preference

Top priorities

Using a forensic psychology background to reduce repeat offending
Running the office independent of political parties
Confronting the county jail's cost and record overdose deaths

Per her state voters' guide statement.

Biography

A Spokane County deputy prosecutor handling criminal and involuntary treatment proceedings on a docket of more than 500 cases, per her state voters' guide statement. She served six years in the Army National Guard, four of them activated, including a deployment to Iraq as a sergeant and training noncommissioned officer, per the same statement, and holds a law degree from Gonzaga while completing a master's in forensic psychology at Arizona State University.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotSpokane County Sheriff

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney in 2026?

When is the Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney 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 Treasurer Spokane County District Court, Judge Position 2 Spokane County District Court, Judge Position 4 See all 29 Spokane County races

Candidate profiles

Preston McCollam, full profile Danny Tarkenton, full profile Official Washington election office