Election: Herrera Beutler leads Long; Hoff likely on his way to victory

After first count, Southwest Washington is favoring incumbent Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler in the Washington U.S. Representative District 3 race. 

Although Clark County came out a little stronger in support of Challenger Democrat Carolyn Long, Herrera Beutler is in the lead districtwide. 

Her lead is 52.3 to 47.7 percent, a difference of about 10,000 votes.

“I’m humbled, I’m excited and I’m optimistic,” Herrera Beutler said following the first wave of results. She noted that her campaign was outspent by some $1 million as well as it being a year when typically safe seats for Republicans were much more competitive than in the past.

“I’m grateful to the folks of Southwest Washington,” Herrera Beutler remarked.

In the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Democrat Maria Cantwell received 53.4 percent of the vote in Clark County and about 58.6 percent statewide, compared to challenger Republican Susan Hutchison who received 46.6 and 41.4 percent respectively.

Clark County Council

As of the first results for the new Clark County Council Chair, voters are leaning toward having a Democrat in the position next year.

Democrat Eric Holt leads with 50.4 percent. Republican and current District 4 Councilor Eileen Quiring is at 49.6 percent. About 1,200 votes separate them.

For Clark County Council District 1, Incumbent Republican Jeanne Stewart is likely on her way out.

Challenger Democrat Temple Lentz managed to get about 60.6 percent of the vote as of first numbers — handily more than Stewart’s 39.4 percent.

Clark County Council District 2’s results were even more lopsided, though, but in favor of the incumbent.

Councilor Julie Olson gained 78.3 percent of the vote to challenger Elisabeth Veneman’s 21.7 percent. Both candidates are Republicans.

Olson said her strong numbers reflect that she has represented the district well.

“I think whether you’re a Republican or Democrat, at the local level it’s about finding solutions for people, and I think I’ve been able to do that fairly well,” Olson remarked. “I’m hoping to continue that in the future.”

State Legislature races

In the race for Washington State Rep. District 17 Position 1, Incumbent Republican Vicki Kraft has a very slight lead over challenger Democrat Tanisha Harris as of first results.

Kraft netted about 50.7 percent of the vote, roughly 600 votes above Harris.

The race for District 17 Position 2 spot is decidedly more in favor of the incumbent, as Republican Rep. Paul Harris has 57.6 percent of the vote to challenger Democrat Damion Jiles’ 42.4 percent as of the initial count.

“I campaigned hard. I worked hard,” Harris said after the first results.

Harris also pointed to his track record as a legislator.

“I just work across the aisle a lot. (I) listen to the constituents, vote for what I think my constituents want, which I think I have, and continue to represent them well,” he said.

For Legislative District 18 Position 1, Republican Incumbent Brandon Vick was able to pull out a victory if the first count was to mirror the total vote, as Vick has about 54.9 percent to challenger Democrat Chris Thobaben’s 45.1 percent.

Vick likened the biennial elections to State Representative seats as “a public performance review for our job every two years.”

“I’m just honored by the fact that our constituents, our voters, think that (I’ve) done something right over the last six years, and I’m happy to go to work for them for the next two,” he said.   

The biggest upset in the state races for those who paid attention to the August primary is for Washington State Rep. District 18 Position 2, as Republican Larry Hoff has about 51.9 percent of the vote to Democrat Kathy Gillespie’s 48.1 percent. Gillespie won first place in the primary with more than 52 percent of the vote.

Following the first results, Hoff said his lead was “the result of all the hard work we put up, and all of the people that helped us.”

“I can’t say enough about all of the volunteers,” Hoff said. “I was the candidate, but it takes a world of help.”

Like District 17, the incumbents of Legislative District 20 came in on top in the first count, though by greater margins.

District 20 Position 1 Republican Incumbent Richard DeBolt has 63.2 percent approval districtwide.

For District 20 Position 2 Republican, Incumbent Ed Orcutt managed a 67 percent lead in Clark County and a 64.6 percent districtwide in the first numbers, with Democrat Challenger Brennan Bailey having 33 and 35.4 percent, respectively.

Other countywide races

Outside of county council races, several other elected positions in county government were up for grabs this year.

Regarding contested races, Incumbent Clark County Assessor Peter Van Nortwick had the edge over challenger (and Ridgefield city councilor) Darren Wertz, netting 60.3 percent of the vote to Wertz’ 39.7 percent. Both candidates are Republicans.

Van Nortwick was pleased to see the numbers in his favor, chalking it up to his ability to communicate with county residents about what happens to their property taxes and why, especially following the increases felt countywide following state school funding changes among other impacts.

“I just think that message came through,” Van Nortwick said.

For the Clark County Clerk race, incumbent Republican Scott Weber was able to recover from an August primary vote that saw challenger Democrat Barbara Melton in the lead.

As of the first numbers released, Weber has 52.6 percent of the vote to Melton’s 47.4 percent. In the primary, Melton led with 50.7 percent of the vote.

The successor to the retiring Clark County Treasurer Doug Lasher is likely Alisha Topper based on the initial results. Topper had 69.3 percent of the vote compared to fellow candidate Robert Hinds’ 30.7 percent.

For the Clark Public Utilities District 1 Commissioner, Incumbent Jim Malinowski is looking like he will retain his seat. The numbers show him with a 56.1 percent lead over challenger Sherry Erickson and her 43.9 percent.

Green Mountain School District’s capital projects levy looks to be set to pass given the first election number released. The levy, which would raise $1.25 million over five years for renovations and replacements on the small school district’s campus. About 56.1 percent of district voters were in favor of the levy, 179 votes for to 137 against.

Statewide initiatives

The initial results showed three out of four statewide initiatives passing.

The one looking to fail was Initiative 1631 which would apply fees on sources of greenhouse gas emissions with revenue generated used to fund pollution reduction and environmental efforts. About 40.6 percent of Clark County voters were in support of the initiative, compared to the 43.7 percent in approval statewide.

Initiative 1634, which would prevent local governments from putting new or increased taxes on certain grocery items such as soda, had about 53.6 percent of Clark County voters cast their ballot in support, while about 54.8 percent did statewide.

Initiative 1639, which would introduce several measures related to gun safety on “semiautomatic assault rifles” as defined in the initiative, require training, raise the age of legal purchase as well as introduce storage requirements on all firearms, had roughly 54.8 percent voting in support of the initiative in Clark County, compared to almost 60.4 percent statewide.

Initiative 940, which would require police officer training on violence de-escalation, mental-health, and first-aid while establishing a “good faith” standard on the use of deadly force, had about 53.8 percent of Clark County voters approving the initiative while about 59.2 percent did so statewide.