State Representative Pos. 1
August 4, 2026 · Legislative (House) District 16; Washington · State house district · 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 · 8 out of 100
This district is large for its type, so each vote is a smaller slice of the outcome. About 163,669 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(164,798 ÷ 163,669) ÷ ln(164,798 ÷ 152,644) = 8.97, comparing state house districts in WA (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
Low representation + unknown decisiveness → Below average vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
This office is responsible for:
- Voting on state laws and the state budget
- Representing their district in the statehouse
- Serving on committees that shape bills before final votes
- Helping district residents deal with state agencies
Affected Areas: Environment and Public Health, Reduce Wealth Gap, Anti-Corruption, Government Efficiency, Healthcare Affordability, Government Spending Reduction, Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Social Programs and Welfare, Public Education Quality, Gun Control, Women's Reproductive Rights, Election Integrity, Personal Income Tax Reduction, Data Privacy, Civil Rights, Corporate Accountability, Public Infrastructure
Candidates
Kyle Palmer
Democratic · declared
Kyle Palmer is a small-business owner and real estate professional with experience in housing, land use, and regional development. He formerly chaired the Richland Planning Commission and has also served with AmeriCorps VISTA, the Tri-Cities Association of REALTORS education committee, and Friends of the Richland Library.
Mark Klicker
Republican · Incumbent · declared
Mark Klicker serves as the Washington State Representative for District 16, Position 1. He is the ranking minority member of the House Local Government Committee and assistant ranking member of the House Environment & Energy Committee, and also serves on the Transportation and Rules committees and two joint committees.
Records: Civil Rights 1 against, Environment and Public Health 1 for, Government Efficiency 2 for, Government Spending Reduction 1 for, Gun Control 1 against, Housing Affordability 2 for, 1 against, Personal Income Tax Reduction 3 for, Public Infrastructure 1 against, Public Safety and Crime Control 2 for
Election sources
Source: sos.wa.gov
Source: voter.votewa.gov
Source: sos.wa.gov