Democrats win most local primary contests

First and second place finishers in contested Aug. 7 primary elections in the La Conner vote shed were Maria Cantwell and Susan Hutchison, U.S. Senate; Rick Larsen in the Second Congressional District with 57 votes separating Brian Luke from Gary Franco for a distant second place; Jackie Brunson, Bradley Whaley, country treasurer; and Tom Seguine, Cecily Hazelrigg-Hernandez, state court of appeals, division 1, district 3.

Uncle Mover finished second in Skagit County for the Second Congressional District, but fourth overall for the seat representing Island, San Juan, and parts of Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom counties.

Diane Lekanoff, of Bow, governmental liaison director for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, won the six-person race for the position 1, stare house district 40 seat vacated by Kristine Lytton. Michael Petrish, of Anacortes is in second place, 676 votes ahead of Alex Ramel, of Whatcom County. Most of the remaining ballots are from Skagit County.

Cecily Hazelrigg-Hernandez, like Seguine, a Skagitonian, is 404 votes ahead of Lisa Keeler, of Whatcom County, for second place for the appeals court seat.

The emergency medical services, EMS, levy, passed overwhelmingly, with over 66 percent of the vote. Funding will support the development of a countywide ambulance response system.

It seems the “blue wave” did materialize. Almost 42 percent of voters cast ballots. The 31,388 voters are the most ever in a primary election, though the county’s population is at an all-time high. The 2010 primary election saw the largest turnout in the last eight years, at 48 percent, a Republican romp reacting to Barak Obama’s election. This year’s turnout is 15 percent higher than 2016’s primary, but still 12.7 below the 2010 turn out percentage.

Democratic challengers Scott McMullen and Dave Paul bested incumbents Norma Smith and Dave Hayes in the first round of voting for 10th legislature district house seats 1 and 2 respectively. The 10th district includes Island and parts of Skagit and Snohomish countries. The challengers won both district wide and are winning in Skagit County. McMullen is 760 votes ahead; his victory is not certain.

The next vote update will be by 4:30 p.m. Friday. There are 1,500 possible ballots left to count in Skagit County. Fewer than 475 total ballots remain to be counted in Island and Whatcom counties. Five ballots are left in Snohomish County. The San Juan tally is complete. The Skagit County counts will determine second place finishes in the Second Congressional District, position 1 of the state house district 10 seat and the appeals court posiion.

County totals will be certified August 21. The Secretary of State will certify statewide totals Aug. 24.