10:30 p.m. A historic blue wave for the country – and Skagit County
Tuesday night’s early election returns suggest a strong night for Democrats in Skagit County, with Democratic candidates leading nearly every contested countywide race and holding commanding leads in the county’s more competitive legislative districts.
Perhaps the biggest result is the race for Skagit County commissioner District 3, where Democrat Joe Burns led Republican Keith Wagoner by more than 21 percentage points, 60% to 39%. Democrat Jeremy Harrison-Smith also held a substantial lead in the county auditor’s race, while Democratic candidates for county clerk, coroner and treasurer were comfortably ahead.
The Democratic advantage extended to Olympia. Incumbent Democratic Reps. Debra Lekanoff and Alex Ramel led by wide margins in the 40th Legislative District, as did Democrats Clyde Shavers and Dave Paul in the 10th District. Republicans Sam Low and Steve Ewing held narrower leads in the 39th District.
But the results also reveal a more complicated political landscape. Skagit County voters favored an initiative restricting transgender girls’ participation in school sports by nearly 60%, while rejecting measures to repeal the state’s tax on millionaires and roll back changes to parental rights legislation.
Local funding measures also enjoyed overwhelming support, including La Conner School District’s educational facility modernization and technology levy, which was passing with more than 73% approval.
Taken together, the initial results suggest Skagit voters were willing to back Democratic candidates and invest in local public services while taking more conservative positions on some social issues.
With turnout at 33% in the initial count and more ballots to be counted, the margins could change. The next results are expected Wednesday afternoon.
8:40 a.m. CNN said Democrats have won control of Congress.
8:31 p.m. Democrats lead Skagit County races; La Conner school levy passing
Democrats were leading most contested Skagit County races in the first election returns Tuesday night, while voters overwhelmingly supported local school, transportation and public safety measures.
In the race for Skagit County commissioner District 3, Democrat Joe Burns led Republican Keith Wagoner with 60.49% of the vote to Wagoner’s 39.39%. Democrat Jeremy Harrison-Smith led the county auditor’s race with 56.53%, while Sheriff Chris Baldwin, an independent, held a commanding lead over Republican Cody Hart with 74.41%.
In the 40th Legislative District, Democratic Reps. Debra Lekanoff and Alex Ramel led their challengers with 64.99% and 67.49%, respectively. Democrats Clyde Shavers and Dave Paul also led in the 10th District, while Republicans Sam Low and Steve Ewing held narrow leads in the 39th District.
Closer to home, La Conner School District voters were approving a levy for educational facility modernization and technology, with 73.15% voting yes.
Mount Vernon voters supported renewing a sales tax for transportation improvements with 76.25% approval, while Sedro-Woolley voters favored joining the Central Skagit Rural Partial-County Library District with 76.94% support. A property tax levy for Fire District 5 was passing with 71.33%.
Voter turnout stood at 33%, with 30,661 ballots cast out of 92,274 registered voters as of 8:20 p.m. Tuesday.
All results are unofficial. The next update is expected at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4.
8:24 p.m. Early returns: Skagit voters reject two initiatives, support school sports measure
Skagit County voters were rejecting two statewide initiatives and supporting a third in early election returns Tuesday night, mirroring statewide voting trends.
A measure to repeal Washington’s 9.9% income tax on annual earnings over $1 million, Initiative IP26-645, was losing in Skagit County, with 57.15% voting no and 42.85% voting yes. Statewide, the measure was failing with 58.38% voting no.
Initiative IL26-001, which would roll back changes to the state’s parental rights law for public schools, was narrowly losing in Skagit County, with 51.18% opposed and 48.82% in favor. Statewide, 53.37% were voting no.
Meanwhile, Initiative IL26-638, which would restrict participation by transgender girls in girls’ K-12 school sports and require health care providers to verify students’ biological sex, was leading with 59.69% support in Skagit County. Statewide, the measure was ahead with 55.93% voting yes.
The results are preliminary, with additional ballots remaining to be counted. None of the races has been decided.
National results coming in; local results imminent
It’s 8 p.m. and polls have closed in Washington state.
We expect results in Skagit and Whatcom counties soon.
Nationally, CNN has called the House for Democrats while the Associated Press said the Democrats were “marching toward House control. The New York Times is saying that Democrats were on track to take the House and the Senate.
Tuesday morning: What’s on the ballot?
U.S. House, Washington 2nd District: Democratic incumbent Rep. Rick Larsen vs. Republican Edwin Feller
State Legislature, House District 10, Pos. 1: Democratic incumbent Clyde Shavers vs. Republican Robert “Chili” Hicks
State Legislature, House District 10, Pos. 2: Democratic incumbent Dave Paul vs. Republican Timothy Hazelo
Several Skagit County offices, ranging from auditor to sheriff
A La Conner schools facilities and technology levy
Several highly controversial statewide initiatives, including the Millionaires Tax
Where to take your ballot
Nearby ballot drop boxes can be found at:
The Swinomish Social Services Building at 17337 Reservation Road
614 E. Morris St.
Be sure to drop them off before 8 p.m. today. Remember that if you’re wanting to mail your ballot instead, the only way to be sure it will be postmarked in time to be counted is to take it inside the La Conner U.S. Post Office at 125 First St. before 5 p.m. Tuesday to have a clerk physically post mark it for Tuesday.
When will results become available?
The Washington Secretary of State’s office releases the first batch of results around 8:15 p.m. Watch for coverage of the local races on the La Conner Community News website thereafter, and then in Thursday’s printed newspaper.
