County Prosecuting Attorney
August 4, 2026 · Clark County, Washington · County · primary
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Low · 21 out of 100
This district is large for its type, so each vote is a smaller slice of the outcome. About 516,959 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(2,287,171 ÷ 516,959) ÷ ln(2,287,171 ÷ 2,353) = 21.62, comparing counties in WA (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: None · only 1 candidate
One candidate is running unopposed, so votes can't change the outcome.
Low representation + an uncontested race → Very low vote impact.
District Attorney is responsible for:
- Deciding who gets charged with crimes in the county
- Prosecuting criminal cases in court on the public's behalf
- Deciding plea deals and what sentences to ask for
- Working with police as cases are investigated and built
Affected Areas: Anti-Corruption, Public Safety and Crime Control, Gun Control, Women's Reproductive Rights, Civil Rights, Corporate Accountability
Candidates
Laurel Smith
Nonpartisan · declared
Laurel Smith is a Clark County senior deputy prosecutor who has served in the Prosecuting Attorney's Office since 2012 and as a Clark County District Court judge pro tempore since 2022. She supervises attorneys and staff in specialized units and has prosecuted homicide, sexual-assault, domestic-violence, and child-abuse cases.
Election sources
Source: voter.votewa.gov
Source: www2.sos.wa.gov