Incumbents win all races in primary election

The Aug. 6 primary election results were certified by the Washington Secretary of State after the Weekly News went to press Tuesday, but the winners were all known from the first vote count. Only some 60 ballots remained to be counted by the Skagit County elections office staff. In the three-county state legislative district 10, an estimated 30 ballots were outstanding in Island and Snohomish counties.

The most competitive race in November will be between State Senator Ron Muzzall’s (R-Oak Harbor), the primary winner with about 48.2% of the vote, a 1,300-plus districtwide margin over Island County Commissioner Janet St. Clair. She won 46.6% of the votes. Almost 51.6% of votes were cast for Democrats, with Camano Island resident Danny Sandberg pulling 6%.

State Rep. Clyde Shavers (D-Oak Harbor) won 52.3% of votes in the LD 10 Pos. 1 contest. He faces Republican Carrie Kennedy, an Oak Harbor resident. Her 26.4% of the vote, with Republican Arlington City Councilmember Yvonne Gallardo-Van Ornam’s 21.1% portend a close November contest.

LD 10 Pos. 2 State Rep Dave Paul (D-Oak Harbor) won convincingly, gaining 55.5% of the vote in his third term run. Republican Island County resident Gary Wray’s 44.4%. The two run again in November.

Likewise, incumbent Skagit County Commissioner Ron Wesen (R-Bow) won convincingly, with 65.9% of the vote against Hope Island challenger Rylee Fleury’s 33.2%, running in the county’s District 1. In November they will run countywide.

Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Everett), with 48.2% of votes, convincingly wonthe 2nd Congressional District, comprised of Island, San Juan, Skagit and Whatcom Counties and the northwest tip of Snohomish County.

Sedro-Woolley resident Cody Hart, a MAGA Republican Party candidate, won 19.8% of the vote in the eight-person contest. The three Republican candidates won 35.7% of the vote. Four other Democrats and Green Party candidate Jason Call were also on the ballot.

Skagit County turnout was 43.5% with an estimated 37,775 ballots cast from 86,514 registered voters.

The Weekly News will report final election results on its website later this week.