--- title: "Strickland vs. Chung: 2026 Washington’s 10th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-wa-10" updated: "2026-08-05" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Washington’s 10th District race: Marilyn Strickland (D) vs. Chris Chung (R) Rating: Safe D · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 5, 2026 Incumbent Democratic Representative Marilyn Strickland faces Republican challenger Chris Chung in the general election for Washington's 10th Congressional District on November 3, 2026. The race hinges on Strickland's established legislative record in Congress on infrastructure, healthcare, and military family support versus Chung, a pharmacist and 2024 state insurance commissioner candidate running on the Republican ticket. ## Candidates - **Marilyn Strickland** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://stricklandforwashington.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Marilyn_Strickland) - **Chris Chung** (Republican) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Chris_Chung) ## Issues ### Healthcare Salience: high Strickland advocates for universal coverage through public options and expanding ACA and Medicare eligibility, whereas Chung emphasizes general patient insurance protection based on his background as a pharmacist. **Marilyn Strickland:** Supports universal healthcare and protecting Medicare Strickland views healthcare as a fundamental right and supports universal coverage by expanding the Affordable Care Act with a public option. She also advocates lowering the Medicare eligibility age, expanding coverage for young adults, protecting Medicare benefits, and lowering out-of-pocket costs. - Supports adding a public healthcare option to the Affordable Care Act - Advocates lowering the Medicare eligibility age and raising the age limit for adult children to stay on parental insurance - Pledges to protect Medicare and oppose rollbacks of federal health coverage protections > “Health care is a right, not a privilege. I strongly support universal coverage, starting with adding a public health care option to the Affordable Care Act, lowering the Medicare eligibility age, and increasing the age for children to stay on their parents' insurance.” > — Marilyn Strickland, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Marilyn_Strickland) > “Nobody should die or face bankruptcy because they can’t afford to visit their doctor. I will continue to stand up to extreme attempts to take away health care from Americans, protect Medicare, and make health care more affordable.” > — Marilyn Strickland, via [Campaign site](https://stricklandforwashington.com) **Chris Chung:** Focuses on patient insurance protections Chung, a licensed pharmacist, emphasizes securing health insurance protection for patients and their families. His documented platform focuses on promoting health and happiness for state residents through insurance access. - Brings professional experience as a pharmacist to healthcare policy - Emphasizes protecting residents through insurance access for patients and families - Previously ran for state insurance commissioner in 2024 focused on resident protections > “Chris desires to be an Insurance Commissioner who seeks insurance for patients, insurance for the patients' families, and the health and happiness of everyone in Washington State.” > — Chris Chung, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Chris_Chung) ### Economy and Cost of Living Salience: high Strickland advocates for federal investment in housing, worker benefits, and infrastructure while opposing Republican tax and budget reconciliation legislation, whereas Chung has not published an economic platform. **Marilyn Strickland:** Supports federal housing and infrastructure investment Strickland focuses on lowering costs for working families by expanding affordable housing, investing in infrastructure, and supporting job training in critical industries. In Congress, she opposed the 2025 Republican reconciliation tax and debt limit package. - Prioritizes federal funding to construct affordable housing and lower living costs - Supported local minimum wage increases, universal paid sick leave, and paid family leave - Voted Nay on H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) reconciliation bill - Advocates job training programs in healthcare, nursing, teaching, and building trades > “Working people and small businesses are struggling with rising costs. That’s why I’ve spent my time in Congress focused on lowering costs, creating jobs, and getting our economy back on track.” > — Marilyn Strickland, via [Campaign site](https://stricklandforwashington.com) > “Everyone deserves the right to a safe, healthy home they can afford. The federal government must put more resources into building housing.” > — Marilyn Strickland, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Marilyn_Strickland) **Chris Chung:** No documented position in our sources ### Immigration and Border Security Salience: medium Strickland has a voting record opposing mandatory detention and deportation expansions for noncitizens, while Chung has no documented position on immigration. **Marilyn Strickland:** Opposes restrictive federal enforcement mandates Strickland's record reflects opposition to Republican-sponsored federal immigration enforcement measures in the 119th Congress. She voted against mandatory detention rules for noncitizens and expanding immigration-related grounds for deportation. - Voted Nay on the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) mandating DHS detention of certain noncitizens arrested for burglary or theft - Voted Nay on H.R. 875 making driving while impaired grounds for deportation or inadmissibility **Chris Chung:** No documented position in our sources ### Environment and Energy Salience: medium Strickland champions renewable energy investments and EPA emission regulations, while Chung has no documented environmental policy. **Marilyn Strickland:** Supports clean energy and EPA regulations Strickland views climate change as a public health, national security, and equity priority. She supports federal investments in renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions, rebuilding the EPA, and protecting public lands. - Supports federal investments in renewable energy to transition toward a carbon-free future - Advocates restoring EPA emission regulations and public land protections - Led local initiatives in Tacoma expanding EV infrastructure and solar energy use by 26% > “Climate change is a public health issue, a national security issue, and an equity issue. I will work to invest in renewable energy in pursuit of a carbon-free future, rebuild the EPA focusing particularly on equity impacts, and reinstate regulations on emissions and protections for our public lands.” > — Marilyn Strickland, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Marilyn_Strickland) **Chris Chung:** No documented position in our sources ### Military Servicemembers and Veterans Salience: medium Strickland leverages her Armed Services Committee post to champion military family housing and food security, whereas Chung has no public position on defense or veterans affairs. **Marilyn Strickland:** Supports military family relief and veteran care Serving on the House Armed Services Committee, Strickland focuses on supporting the large military and veteran population in Pierce and Thurston counties. She has sponsored bipartisan legislation addressing food insecurity and affordable housing for military families. - Serves on the House Committee on Armed Services (Subcommittees on Military Personnel and Readiness) - Sponsored bipartisan legislation addressing military family food insecurity and housing access - Prioritizes delivering federal funding and support to veterans in WA-10 > “I’m a proud Army brat and represent tens of thousands of servicemembers, veterans, and military families who call our region home. I’ve led bipartisan legislation to help military families facing food insecurity and to make sure military families have access to affordable housing.” > — Marilyn Strickland, via [Campaign site](https://stricklandforwashington.com) **Chris Chung:** No documented position in our sources ### Elections and Judicial Policy Salience: medium Strickland voted against voter registration citizenship documentation mandates and nationwide injunction restrictions, while Chung has taken no documented position on election or judicial rules. **Marilyn Strickland:** Opposes federal voting restrictions and injunction limits Strickland opposes federal mandates requiring documentary citizenship proof for voter registration and legislation restricting federal district court injunction powers. She also supported government transparency regarding federal investigative files. - Voted Nay on the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring documentary proof of citizenship for federal voter registration - Voted Nay on the NORRA of 2025 (H.R. 1526) limiting federal court authority to issue nationwide injunctions - Voted Yea on the Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R. 4405) **Chris Chung:** No documented position in our sources ### Education and Social Policy Salience: low Strickland holds major education endorsements and opposed federal bans on transgender athletes in school sports, while Chung has no published stance. **Marilyn Strickland:** Supports public education and LGBTQ rights Strickland advocates for public education and equal rights for LGBTQ individuals. In the 119th Congress, she voted against legislation banning transgender females from participating in female athletic programs. - Endorsed by the National Education Association in 2026 - Voted Nay on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28) - Supported civic initiatives increasing Tacoma high school graduation rates from 55% to 89% > “We raised the high school graduation rate in Tacoma from 55% to 89% by making education a civic priority.” > — Marilyn Strickland, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Marilyn_Strickland) **Chris Chung:** No documented position in our sources ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/wa-10-house-election-winner) — WA-10 House Election Winner: Democrats 98.0%, Republicans 2.1% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-WA10-26) — WA-10 House winner?: Marilyn Strickland 98.5%, Chris Chung 1.4% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXWAPRIMARY-1026) — WA-10 primary: who will advance?: Chris Chung 99.0%, Marilyn Strickland 99.0%, Alex Scheel 3.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-wa-10)