Most Primary Election Results Clear, but one Statewide Race Continues to Evolve

Posted by Joe Adamack on August 14, 2024

In last week’s “too soon to tell” primary election blog post with initial reaction to the first results, we made it clear that some results would change in the coming days or weeks as ballots were counted. As a reminder this stems from Washington’s mail-in ballot process that sees many voters submit their choice the day of the election.

While the overwhelming majority of the races remained as they were after the first announcements, and a small number have seen lead changes over the last week, the main race to watch at this point remains the statewide election for public lands commissioner.

With seven candidates running (two Republicans and five Democrats) votes have split in a way that sees former Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler retain the lead she had after the first results, but a very close race for the second spot between Democrat Dave Upthegrove and Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson. Pederson originally held the second spot lead in the top two election the first few days of counting but Upthegrove took the lead in subsequent counts. As of right now he has a lead of about 3,000 votes, which has started dwindling in recent days. This will continue to remain interesting as election officials anticipate ~20,000 votes left to count, but many of those are in Republican dominated counties, which has allowed Pederson to start making up ground.

The final result will likely be known in the next couple of days as more ballots are counted but this example serves as a great reminder that in Washington’s top two primary that leads can change back and forth for weeks and the number of candidates running — especially from the same party — can see races turn out in unpredictable ways.

We will provide a final primary analysis and general election preview once the Secretary of State certifies the primary results, which must be done by August 23rd.

Posted in Advocacy on the Move, Washington Advocacy.