Clark County Superior Court Judge Diane Woolard easily defeated challenger Josephine Townsend on Tuesday, capturing nearly 63 percent of the votes to retain her seat.
Of 41,631 votes counted Tuesday night, Woolard picked up 25,258 votes to Townsend’s 14,749. Under Washington law, judicial races are decided in the primary if any candidate wins more than 50 percent of the votes.
The race was the first time that Woolard has drawn an opponent in 12 years.
Tuesday night, Woolard said: “I’m very gratified to win another four years.”
She added that she hadn’t been quick to assume she’d win re-election, as attorneys are competitive in nature and “it’s not done until it’s over.”
Townsend, a private practice lawyer who formerly served as Vancouver’s city prosecutor, has long sought to join the bench. She’s unsuccessfully vied for the District Court and Superior Court previously and chose to run against Woolard this year because of what she referred to as the judge’s inconsistent rulings. She said Woolard was often overturned on appeal.
