Kent gains on Perez in 3rd Congressional District race

Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez remained in the lead Friday as Republican Joe Kent trimmed that lead to 4,959 votes in the race to succeed Jaime Herrera Beutler in representing Southwest Washington’s 3rd Congressional District.

The Washington Secretary of State’s Office reported Friday evening that Perez, D-Stevenson, had 146,372 votes, or 50.57 percent of the vote, while Kent, R-Yacolt, had 141,413 votes, or 48.86 percent.

In Clark County, Kent received 12,316 votes in Friday’s tally compared with Perez’s 12,158 votes, though Perez still leads Kent in the county 102,851 to 81,029 votes. In Cowlitz County, Kent picked up 2,818 votes to Perez’s 2,053. Only Clark County and Cowlitz County reported results Friday.

Districtwide, Kent narrowed Perez’s lead by 923 votes since Thursday out of the 29,515 votes counted Friday. To date, 289,434 votes have been cast in the race, including 1,649 write-in votes, which account for 0.57 percent of the vote.

There are about 25,300 votes left to count throughout the 3rd District, not including Thurston County, where the number of outstanding ballots for the district cannot be determined.

Clark County, which accounts for 20,000 of those remaining ballots, will report next at 4 p.m. Saturday, as will Thurston County. All other counties in the district will report again on Monday, Tuesday or Nov. 28.

Legislative races

Both Republican candidates running for the 18th Legislative District have extended their leads.

In the race for Position 1, Republican Stephanie McClintock’s tally increased to 30,304 votes, or 51.99 percent of the total, with Democrat John Zingale at 27,987 votes, or 48.01 percent. For Position 2, Republican candidate Greg Cheney maintained his lead, with 31,716 votes, or 54.29 percent of the total, over Democrat Duncan Camacho, with 26,708 votes, or 45.71 percent.

In the 17th District Position 1 race, Republican Kevin Waters of Stevenson retains his lead with 33,381 votes, or 52.89 percent, compared with Democrat Terri Niles of Vancouver, who has 29,634 votes, or 46.95 percent. They are vying to succeed two-term Republican state Rep. Vicki Kraft, who ran in the August primary to represent the 3rd Congressional District.

Republican Paul Harris continues to lead Democrat Joe Kear for the 17th Legislative Position 2, with 34,284 votes, or 54.36 percent of votes cast, to Kear’s 28,675 votes, or 45.47 percent of the total.

The 49th Legislative District Position 1 and Position 2 incumbents, Democrats Sharon Wylie and Monica Jurado Stonier, continue to hold commanding leads of more than 10,000 votes. The 20th Legislative District incumbents, Republicans Peter Abbarno and Ed Orcutt, ran unopposed.

Clark County Council, offices

All three candidates leading in their nonpartisan race for Clark County Council remained ahead Friday.

In District 1, Glen Yung has 15,391 votes, or 58.19 percent of the total cast; his opponent, Hector Hinojosa, received 11,057 votes, or 41.81 percent.

Michelle Belkot continues to lead Chartisha Roberts by nearly 10 percentage points. Belkot has 18,363 votes, or 54.83 percent of the total votes cast, while Roberts has 15,125 votes, or 45.17 percent.

Former state legislator Don Benton gained ground on Sue Marshall for the District 5 seat. Benton has 19,338 votes, or 47.56 percent; Marshall has 21,325 votes, or 52.44 percent.

John Horch appears to have won the race for Clark County sheriff against Rey Reynolds, holding a 19,688-vote lead. Horch has 96,382 votes, or 55.69 percent of the total cast, with Reynolds at 76,694 votes, or 44.31 percent.

Charter amendments

Clark County Charter Amendment 12 adding a preamble to the county charter is still narrowly failing, with 50.80 percent of voters against it.