Thurston County, Washington

Thurston County Commissioner, District No. 5

2 candidates are tracked for Thurston County Commissioner, District No. 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Nicolas Martinez-Dunning and Emily Clouse. Candidate information follows official Thurston County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Nicolas Martinez-Dunning (Democratic) and Emily Clouse (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot for Thurston County Commissioner, District No. 5, per the Secretary of State's VoteWA general-election candidate list. No August 4 primary contest for this office appears in the county's official results feed (two or fewer filers advance directly). Washington's top-two primary sends the two leading candidates to November regardless of party; party labels are stated preferences.

What this office does

County commissioner. The county board is the county's legislative and, in most states, executive body. Commissioners adopt the county budget and property tax rate, oversee roads, the jail, public health, planning and zoning in unincorporated areas, and appoint or confirm department heads. In counties with an elected county executive or judge, the board's role is mainly the budget and ordinances.

This race. The sitting officeholder, Emily Clouse, is on the ballot.

Washington › Thurston County › Thurston County Commissioner, District No. 5

Nicolas Martinez-Dunning

Democratic

Top priorities

Bring fiscal responsibility and budget transparency to the commission
Unite around practical solutions on homelessness, rising costs and public safety
Declines contributions from special-interest groups and political action committees

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Martinez-Dunning is a small business owner and a current Lacey City Council member, and a 10-year U.S. Marine Corps and Washington National Guard veteran who deployed to Iraq, per the county's official voters' pamphlet. His business received a 2025 South Sound Business of the Year award, per the same source. Nicolas Martinez-Dunning appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Thurston County Commissioner, District No. 5, per the county elections office's certified candidate list.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Emily Clouse

Democratic Incumbent

Top priorities

Expand affordable housing, citing more than $25 million secured for 186 supportive housing units
Advance environmental investments including estuary restoration and heat pump upgrade programs
Keep county budgeting transparent and priority-based

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Clouse is the current Thurston County Commissioner for District 5 and chairs the Thurston Climate Mitigation Collaborative and the county's Solid Waste Advisory Committee, per the county's official voters' pamphlet. She previously worked as a military intelligence analyst and co-founded a nonprofit serving Olympia families, per the same source. Emily Clouse appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Thurston County Commissioner, District No. 5, per the county elections office's certified candidate list.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotThurston County Coroner

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Thurston County Commissioner, District No. 5 in 2026?

When is the Thurston County Commissioner, District No. 5 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 Thurston 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 Thurston County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Thurston County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney Thurston County Sheriff Thurston County Treasurer See all 25 Thurston County races

Candidate profiles

Nicolas Martinez-Dunning, full profile Emily Clouse, full profile Official Washington election office