FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2025
District 8 Caucus Concludes with Overwhelming Victory for New Leadership
After a tense and unprecedented series of events leading up to our March 15 District 8 Caucus, we are proud to announce that the caucus was successfully held, resulting in a decisive victory for Ken Sikora as District Chair, alongside Dean Neubert as Vice Chair, Dixon Wolfe as Secretary, and Myra Chand as Treasurer.
In the days before the caucus, the Credentials Committee issued a report recommending that three county delegations not be seated. The three affected counties disputed these findings, expressing serious concerns that the committee made its recommendations without any due process or contact with the affected counties. The counties further argued that their delegations—representing nearly half of the district’s total delegates—would be unfairly disenfranchised, thereby depriving their members of their fundamental right to vote.
Upon review, the District Executive Committee unanimously found that the Credentials Committee had not met properly - failing to obtain the quorum required to conduct official business. As a result, the committee’s report was ruled invalid, and no official report was ever made. As it was the unanimous decision of the Executive Committee that the “recommendation” of the Credentials Committee was null and void, the three affected counties were prepared to go forward by the rules and accept whatever the outcome would be.
Unfortunately, there were people in District leadership who still insisted that our delegates were to be improperly banned from participation in the caucus.
As a result, on Friday three counties and two delegates—both currently-serving County Sheriffs—sought legal intervention. State law requires that any District Caucus be conducted according to the RPW Constitution, which clearly requires that any delegates submitted five days prior to the caucus must be seated and allowed to vote, and no one else. A judge issued a temporary restraining order simply requiring the District to follow the law. Nothing more, nothing less.
The day of the caucus began with an attempt by some counties to adjourn the event, even after hundreds of dedicated delegates had traveled from across the district to participate. An Executive Committee meeting was then called to deliberate on whether to proceed with the caucus. Thankfully, after over an hour of intense discussion—and with delegates demanding their right to vote—the county parties voted to hold the caucus. Once the decision was made, all counties participated and the caucus moved forward as planned.
The final vote for district leadership was clear and resounding:
- Ken Sikora — 623 votes
- Stephanie Soucek — 373 votes
We congratulate Ken Sikora and the newly elected leadership team, and we thank Stephanie Soucek for her service to the District.
We acknowledge and sincerely apologize to our delegates for the turmoil they endured. This process was marked by unnecessary conflict, but in the end, the rules and the law prevailed.
Now, it’s time to come together. With the April 1 election just weeks away, our focus must shift to defeating the Democrats and ensuring Republican victories across the district. Under new leadership, District 8 has the opportunity to become the most impactful district in the state—by leveraging resources, technology, and grassroots efforts to maximize Republican turnout.
We encourage all members to stay engaged, get involved, and learn more about the party’s processes. Greater understanding leads to greater transparency and smoother, more professional resolutions to future disputes. Regardless of the outcome of any internal election, our ultimate mission remains the same: winning elections.
“Forward!”
-The Republican Party of Brown County