Early results from the general election show several races in the 18th Legislative District are too close to call.
The first round of results, released shortly after 8 p.m. on Tuesday, include votes for local, state and federal offices, along with four statewide initiatives on the ballot for Washington voters.
Federal and state offices
As of 8:30 p.m., Democrat incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Perez leads U.S. Congressional District 3’s race with 155,231 votes (51.78%). Republican Joe Kent trails with 143,433 votes (47.84%). In this congressional district, 70% of votes were tabulated with an estimated 127,000 remaining to count.
Statewide, Democrat Bob Ferguson maintains a healthy lead in the governor's race with 1,286,556 votes (56.93%) over Republican Dave Reichert, who garnered 969,289 votes (42.89%).
Democrat incumbent Denny Heck leads the lieutenant governor race with 1,276,722 votes (57.26%). Republican Dan Matthews trails with 950,390 votes (42.63%).
In a much less close race, Democrat incumbent Maria Cantwell is set to serve her fifth term, as she claimed the U.S. senator race with 1,520,230 votes, (66.76%). Dr. Raul Garcia is behind with 1,009,078 votes (44.31%).
Democrat incumbent Steve Hobbs leads the race for Washington’s secretary of state with 1,505,441 votes (66.52%). Republican Dale Whitaker took 1,010,415 votes (44.65%).
In the race for Commissioner of Public Lands, Democrat Dave Upthegrove is ahead with 1,327,961 votes (53.2%). Republican and former U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler is trailing with 1,162,535 votes (46.58%).
Democrat Pat McCarthy leads the state auditor race with 1,470,704 votes (58.8%). Democrat Mike Pellicciotti leads the state treasurer race with 1,455,720 votes (58.1%). Democrat Nick Brown leads the attorney general race with 1,412,902 votes (56.47%). Chris Reykdal leads the superintendent of public instruction race with 1,195,088 votes (53.63%).
Ballot measures
The preliminary results of four statewide ballot measures were also counted.
As of 8 p.m., Initiative 2066 was passing with 1,288,228 votes (51.22%) in favor and 1,227,068 voters in opposition (48.78%). If approved by the majority of Washington voters, I-2066 would require cities and counties to ensure natural gas is supplied to applicable businesses and residents. Additionally, the initiative would repeal sections of House Bill 1589, which the state Legislature passed last March. I 2066 would repeal the law that requires large utility companies, namely Puget Sound Energy (PSE), to merge their natural gas and electric utility customers into one rate plan. Under the law, PSE would be required to develop a plan by 2027 to assess the feasibility of cost-effective electrification options for its customers.
Initiative No. 2109 is unlikely to pass with 937,050 votes (36.79%) in favor and 1,610,148 votes in opposition (48.78%). I-2109 would have repealed an excise capital gains tax for assets over $250,000 in value if passed. This 7% capital gains tax is used by the state to fund early child care services.
Initiative No. 2117, a ballot measure to repeal the Climate Commitment Act (CCA), appears to be failing as of Tuesday night. The CCA, which the initiative would have rescinded, works to reduce carbon emissions through “allowances,” which companies can purchase and trade at auctions, similar to stocks. Each year, the state reduces the amount of allowances, which raises the value and price. The funds are transferred to transportation improvement projects, including road improvements, across the state. Local Republican leaders have argued the law has caused gas companies to raise prices. I-2117 garnered 972,623 votes (38.31%) in favor and 1,566,065 Washington voters (61.69%) opposed as of Tuesday night.
Initiative No. 2124 garnered 1,119,728 votes in favor (44.51%) and 1,396,215 votes in opposition (55.49%). If approved, I-2124 will allow employees in Washington to opt out of the state’s payroll tax to receive benefits under WA Cares, the State’s long-term healthcare insurance program.
Local elections
The state senator seat in the 18th state Legislative District, which encompasses Battle Ground and surrounding areas, is narrowly led by Democratic candidate Adrian Cortes with 31,735 votes (50.91%), followed by Republican Brad Benton with 30,599 votes (49.09%).
Incumbent Stephanie McClintock leads the state representative position 1 race with 34,212 votes (55.03%), followed by Deken Letinich with 27,963 votes (44.97%). Republican John Ley maintains a narrow lead in the representative position 2 race with 31,172 votes (50.18%), followed by Democrat John Zingale with 30,950 votes (49.82%). Ley, the leading Republican candidate, faces a trial for election fraud charges in a 2022 race for an 18th Legislative District representative seat in which he is accused of not being a district resident. The trial was set for October but was rescheduled to Feb. 24.
In the 20th state Legislative District, which includes Woodland, La Center and Ridgefield, races are one-sided.
Incumbent Republican John Braun is running unopposed for his state senate seat. Incumbent Republican Peter Abbarno leads the representative position 1 seat with 10,001 votes (87.47%). Incumbent Republican Ed Orcutt, running for representative position 2 seat, also runs unopposed.
Clark County’s two vacant council seats are in a tight race. In the Clark County Council’s District 3 seat, representing the Vancouver area, Wil Fuentes leads with 14,955 votes (52.61%) and Chuck Keplar taking 13,471 votes (47.39%). The fourth district seat, representing Camas, Washougal and county lands north, is the closest local election. Joe Zimmerman narrowly leads with 17,532 votes (50.09%), followed closely by Matt Little with 17,466 votes (49.91%).
The Clark County Election’s Office counted a total of 199,674 ballots on election night, with an estimated 70,000 ballots left to count.
Clark County had a 57.59% participation rate as of 8 p.m. on election night, with 346,732 registered voters and 199,674 ballots counted, according to information released by the Washington Secretary of State.
Final results will be officially certified by Nov. 26.
Follow local Clark County elections at results.vote.wa.gov/results/20240806/clark/. Cowlitz County elections can be found at results.vote.wa.gov/results/20240806/cowlitz/.
