Primary elections settled

All but 100 ballots have been counted through Aug. 17 in Skagit County for the August primary election. The 1,400 counted ballots did not change any outcomes and neither will the last 100 votes. Final counts and certification were completed Aug. 21.

Democratic contender Scott McMullen bested incumbent Representative Norma Smith (R) for the 10th legislature district house seat 1. He is up by 548 votes, at 50.64 percent. Likewise, challenger Dave Paul won over Dave Hayes, Republican representative of 10th legislature district house seat 2. Paul’s lead is 2,400 votes and 5.5 percent.

The 10th district includes parts of Skagit and Snohomish countries and Island County. The challengers won both district wide and in Skagit County.

Michael Petrish, Republican, of Anacortes, increased his lead for second place for the position 1, state house district 40 seat. He runs against Debra Lekanoff, Democrat, of Bow. Lekanoff, governmental liaison director for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, has an almost 3,000 vote and seven percentage point lead over Petrish. The four Democratic candidates garnered almost 59.5 percent of the vote districtwide.

Cecily Hazelrigg-Hernandez maintained second place for the court of appeals, division 1, district 3 - judge position 1. She finished a distant second to Tom SeGuine

Libertarian Brian Luke will face Representative Rick Larsen (D) for the Second Congressional District seat, though Uncle Mover came in second in Skagit County. Larsen leads with almost 65 percent of the vote. The seat represents parts of Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom counties and Island, San Juan counties.

Senator Maria Cantwell and Susan Hutchison are the first and second place finishers for the U.S. Senate seat.

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

Ballot counting was finished and all but completed in Island, San Juan, Snohomish and Whatcom counties before the Aug. 17 tally update while 1,500 ballots were outstanding in Skagit County

County participation was 42.1 percent, the highest mid-term primary turnout since 2010.

The Washington secretary of state certifies vote totals Aug. 24.

Voting starts Oct. 19 for the Nov. 6 election.

Voter registration closes Oct. 8 for new and online and Oct. 29 for in-person registration. You can register if you will be 18 by election day.