Close legislative race triggers recount

Election officers in Legislative District 19 this week are performing a recount of the primary's closest election.

While Republican Jim Walsh came out on top of the race for Position 1 with 28.96 percent of the vote, Democrats Teresa Purcell, 24.19 percent, and JD Rossetti, 24.0 percent, were within the narrow margin to require a recount. Once the recount is certified, either Purcell or Rossetti will face Walsh in the general election.

District wide, Walsh had 7,675 votes; Purcell 6,411, and Rossetti 6,361. Other candidates for the District 1 position included Val (Halleck) Tinney with 3,877 votes and Tim Sutinen, 2,180 votes.

The Wahkiakum County auditor's office will perform its recount this morning (Thursday).

Here are the final Wahkiakum votes and district percentages for the three District 19 legislative races:

Wahkiakum District

Vote Percentage

State Legislature, Dist. 19, Position 1 %

JD Rossetti D 288 24.00

Tim Sutinen D 108 8.23

Teresa Purcell D 255 24.19

Jim Walsh R 321 28.96

Val (Halleck) Tinney R 191 14.63

State Legislature, Dist. 19, Position 2 %

Jimi O'Hagan R 469 39.08

Brian E. Blake D 642 55.12

Butch Stavrum D 56 5.80

State Senator, Dist. 19 %

Dean Takko D 664 57.65

Sue Kuehl Pederson Ind. GOP 500 42.35