No substantial changes in the numbers for Mason County races in Tuesday’s Primary Election after additional ballots were counted Thursday. However, the difference between the top two candidates for 35th Legislative District State Representative Position 2 has narrowed. And the second candidate for Commissioner of Public Lands is still too close to call.
Incumbent Republican Travis Couture still lead the race for 35th District Rep. Pos. 2 but Democrat James DeHart has closed the gap. As of 3:40 PM Thursday, Couture had 45.79% (14,843 votes) while DeHart had 43.4% (14,069 votes). Percentage difference is now 2.39%. Vote difference is 774. The third candidate in that race, Republican Eric Onisko, now has 10.69% (3,464 votes). Couture and DeHart will face off in the November General Election.
In the statewide race for Commissioner of Public Lands, Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler is still the leader now with 22% (284,935 votes). There has been a change in second place as Democrat Dave Upthegrove overtook Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson. Upthegrove now has 20.91% (270,806 votes) while Kuehl Pederson has 20.14% (260,813 votes). That’s a difference of 9,993 votes or 0.77%.
No changes for the Mason County Commissioner races. Randy Neatherlin and William “Will” Harris are the top two candidate for Commissioner District 1. Tom Beben and Pat Tarzwell are the top two for Commissioner District 2.
The latest numbers for District 1 show Neatherlin with 55.04% (3,662 votes). Harris has 28.54% (1,899 votes). And Ted Jackson has 15.63%.
The latest numbers for District 2 have Beben with 41.3% (2,097 votes), Tarzwell with 33.94% (1,723 votes). And Richard Beckman has 23.83% (1,210 votes).
The two fire district measures are still passing.
Union area votes are supporting Mason County Fire District 6’s property tax levy which now has 63.94% approval. That’s 500 voting “Yes” and 282 voting “No”.
North Mason Regional Fire Authority’s measure now has 64.52% approval. That’s 2,171 voting “Yes” and 1,194 voting “No”.
In the race to fill the 6th Congressional District U.S. Representative currently held by Derek Kilmer, Democrat Emily Randall will face Republican Drew MacEwen in November. As of 3:40 PM Thursday, Randall had 33.49% to MacEwen’s 30.51%.
Democrat Hilary Franz is the closed of the other three candidates in this race, now with 25.48%. The other two candidates didn’t reach double digit percentages.
For U.S. Senator, incumbent Democrat Maria Cantwell maintains her substantial now lead now with 58.4%. Republican Dr. Raul Garcia is the second candidate in the race with 21.39%.
Here are the top two candidates for other state-wide races…
For Governor: Democrat Bob Ferguson and Republican Dave Reichert.
For Lt. Governor: incumbent Democrat Denny Heck and Republican Dan Matthews.
Secretary of State: incumbent Democrat Steve Hobbs and Republican Dale Whitaker.
State Treasure: incumbent Democrat Mike Pellicciotti and Republican Sharon Hanek.
State Auditor: incumbent Democrat Pat McCarthy and Republican Matt Hawkins.
Attorney General: Republican Pete Serrano and Democrat Nick Brown.
Superintendent of Public Instruction: incumbent Chris Reykdal and David Olson.
Insurance Commissioner: Democrat Patty Kuderer and Republican Phil Fortunato.
Supreme Court Justice Position #2: Sal Mungia and Dave Larson.
More ballots will be counted Friday. Election officials in the Mason County Auditor’s Office have about 3300 ballots on hand with additional results expected around 5 PM August 9th.
So far, statewide turnout for this Primary Election is 27.78%. Mason County’s voter turnout is 37.09%. There are over half a million ballots to be counted statewide.