KIRO NEWSRADIO OPINION

‘An adorable, cautionary tale’: Jake and Spike weigh in after WA voter writes in Jimothy for every race on their ballot

Jul 26, 2026, 5:00 AM

Washington Rep. Travis Couture posted on X about low voter turnout in Washington, stating, “If common sense people turn in their ballot, it has more weight to it.” He also had a message for those who think their vote won’t make a difference, saying, “It certainly will never count if you don’t turn it in.”

One voter replied to Couture’s post with a photo of their ballot, but instead of selecting any of the candidates on the ticket, they had written in Jimothy, the viral Ballard raccoon known for his unusually round shape, for every single race.

“Jimothy has a real chance as a write-in!” Couture replied to the post.

Couture then quoted the picture of the ballot and stated, “I would laugh myself to absolute death if Jimothy the raccoon beat Pramila Jayapal.”

Jake and Spike warn Jimothy’s fame could be his demise

KIRO hosts Jake Skorheim and Spike O’Neill also found the ballot amusing, but warned that Jimothy’s fame could follow a familiar rise-and-fall trajectory.

“The level of fame that Jimothy the raccoon is getting is, unfortunately, we’ve seen it before, and we’ve seen where this path leads,” Jake said on “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio. “We like to put him up on a pedestal until we knock him off.”

“Yeah, and we don’t know anything about him,” Spike responded.

“We know very little about his character,” Jake agreed.

“How many other cuties have we fallen for, only to be betrayed by their true character?” Spike joked.

He called Jimothy’s stardom “a cautionary, bushy tail.”

“It’s an adorable, cautionary tale,” Jake responded.

He posed a question to listeners: If you were forced to replace one elected official in Washington with Jimothy, who would it be and why?

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3

Please follow our Community Guidelines

KIRO Newsradio Opinion

wa millionaires' tax...

John Curley Show

‘They are leaving’: Curley rips lawmakers behind millionaires’ tax, says the rich don’t trust WA government

KIRO host John Curley argued that lawmakers in Olympia are deluding themselves if they think the millionaires' tax will solve the budget.

8 hours ago

jimothy votes...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘An adorable, cautionary tale’: Jake and Spike weigh in after WA voter writes in Jimothy for every race on their ballot

KIRO hosts Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill found the ballot amusing, but warned that Jimothy's fame could follow a familiar rise-and-fall trajectory.

8 hours ago

WA oil gas prices summer...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘Long, hot, expensive summer at the pump’: Jake and Spike break down WA’s soaring gas prices

Jake and Spike recapped some of the factors contributing to rising gas prices, and why it's forecasted to be a "hot, expensive summer" in Seattle.

1 day ago

seattle mayor katie wilson budget deficit billion...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘You think this could be a firing?’: Jake, Spike question latest abrupt exit from Mayor Wilson’s office

Concerns rise over Sage Wilson's sudden departure from Mayor Wilson's office. Jake and Spike question if this is indicative of a firing?

2 days ago

Jimothy (1) seattle raccoon ballard...

Charlie Harger

Harger: We find something pure and we love it so hard we ruin it. Jimothy needs an exit strategy

Jimothy is a sensation. One week ago, we first brought you the story of this goofy raccoon on our show. Every day since, the Jimothy content has multiplied.

2 days ago

Seattle free lunch school...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘Another rookie mistake by Mayor Wilson’: Gee and Ursula clash over who stalled Seattle’s free school lunch plan

Mayor Katie Wilson's initiative for free meals in schools faces hurdles. Explore the debate and its implications for Seattle students.

3 days ago

‘An adorable, cautionary tale’: Jake and Spike weigh in after WA voter writes in Jimothy for every race on their ballot