Christy Peters, a Democrat, is running for Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney in the Nov. 3, 2026 Washington general election. Peters served as both deputy prosecutor and chief of staff at the Thurston County Prosecutor's Office, according to BallotReady.
On her campaign website, Peters said she was the first woman to serve as chief of staff at the office, where she managed more than 85 employees. She said she prosecuted aggravated murder, sexual assault and child abuse cases and trained more than 100 law clerks and legal interns.
Peters is certified for the ballot.
Candidate information
Party: Democratic
Residence: Peters describes herself as a longtime Thurston County resident, according to her campaign website. She said she is a working mother of three who has lived and worked in the county for decades.
Recognition: The Washington State Bar Association presented Peters with its Local Hero award in March 2025 for her mentorship and dedication to community service.
National work: Peters serves as an instructor for the National District Attorneys Association on topics including child abuse, trial advocacy, pre-trial motions and cross examination, according to the bar association. She has also spoken before the National Organization of Legal Secretaries, Harborview Trauma Center and the FBI.
Experience and public service
According to her campaign website, Peters collaborated on the expansion of therapeutic Drug, Veterans and Mental Health Courts aimed at reducing repeat crime. She said she is a founding member of the Monarch Child Justice and Advocacy Center. She also said she helped launch the Thurston County Family Justice Center to support domestic violence survivors.
Peters has held a range of community leadership positions, according to the bar association. They include president of the Government Lawyers Bar Association, president of Downtown Olympia Rotary, president of Junior League of Olympia, board chair of Creative Theatre Experience, trustee of the Olympia School District Education Foundation, board member of the Family Support Center and member of the Washington State Criminal Justice Task Force focusing on Race and Prosecution 2.0. She also served on the Nova Middle School Board and the Olympia Youth Chorus Board.
On the issues
Peters provided the following positions through her BallotReady questionnaire responses.
Criminal justice and public safety: Peters said her priorities include prioritizing violent crime and crimes against children while strengthening victim advocacy. She said she supports law enforcement partnerships and expanding smart, evidence-based solutions that reduce repeat offenses. She also cited developing the next generation of law and justice as a goal.
Government reform: Peters said she would lead with accessible transparency and accountability.
Endorsements
The following endorsements appear on Peters' campaign website. Each is claimed by the endorser.
- Jon Tunheim, Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney
- Derek Sanders, Thurston County Sheriff
- Gary Warnock, Thurston County Coroner
- Andy Ryder, City of Lacey
- Leatta Dahlhoff, City of Tumwater
- Dontae Payne, City of Olympia
Tunheim said on the campaign website: "She's the right person to continue seeking justice, supporting victims, and protecting our community."
This is a candidate profile based on official records, campaign materials and the candidate's own questionnaire responses. The Capitol Record did not interview the candidate for this article.
Responses are based on public data and answers to a Surround Sound Media questionnaire if they were provided.
