McClain shows strength in primary election

Washington’s voters went to the polls Tuesday for the 2018 primary election, and challenger Brain McClain showed strength in the race for Wahkiakum County assessor.

In the early tally of votes that had arrived at the county auditor’s office Tuesday, McClain leads incumbent Bill Coons 785-645. Both ran as Independents.

In the race for US Congress, District 3, incumbent Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler did well in Wahkiakum County, tallying 730 votes. Her nearest challenger is Democrat Carolyn Long with 431 votes. Others seeking the position were Democrat David McDevitt 106, Republican Michael Cortney 68, Republican Earl Bowerman 58, Democrat Dorothy Gasqué 32, and Democrat Martin Hash 11.

District wide, the vote was much closer. Herrera Beutler had 40.9 percent of the vote, Long 36.62 percent, McDevitt 8.14 percent, Bowerman 5.3 percent, Gasqué 4.58 percent, Cortney 3.5 percent, and Hash 0.95 percent.

In Washington’s top two primary election system, the two candidates with the highest vote totals advance to the general election.

Wahkiakum County results

Legislative District 19, Position 1—Democrat Erin Frasier 627, incumbent Republican Jim Walsh 787; Frasier leads district wide 51.57 percent to 48.43 percent.

Leg. Dist. 19, Position 2—incumbent Democrat Brian Blake 784, Cathlamet Republican Joel McEntire 433, and Republican David Parsons 193. District wide, Blake tallied 60 percent of the vote, McEntire 21.38 percent and Parsons 18.61 percent.

County auditor—Incumbent Independent Nicci Bergseng 886 votes, Independent Matt Kuhl 540.

County clerk—Democrat incumbent Kay Holland 1,169 votes.

County commissioner, District 3 votes only—incumbent Democrat Blair Brady 225.

Prosecuting attorney—incumbent Democrat Dan Bigelow 928, independent Stewart Feil 523.

County sheriff—incumbent Independent Mark Howie 948, Republican Graham Phalen 529.

County treasurer—incumbent Democrat Tammy Peterson 1,154.

US Senate—incumbent Democrat Maria Cantwell 634, Republican Susan Hutchinson, her only challenger in triple digits in the county, 312. Statewide, Cantwell tallied 55.45 percent of the vote, Hutchinson 23.83 percent, the only other double-digit percentage.

Voter turnout was 49.23 percent; the next count will be 10 a.m. today (Thursday).

Naselle/Pacific County results

County sheriff—incumbent Democrat Scott Johnson 2,585, Independent Robin Souvenir 1,578 and Republican Sean Eastham 1,291.

County commissioner, District 3 votes only—Independent Michael “Hawk” Runyon 644, Todd Stephens (no party preference) 529, Pebbles Keller Williams 500.

Prosecuting attorney—Independent Mark McClain 2,619, Pam Nogueira Maneman (no party preference) 1,583, and Eric Weston (no party preference) 901.

PUD 2 Commissioner District 2 (Non-partisan)—Debbie Oakes 943, Don Pape 581, J. Daniel Whealdon 379.

County treasurer—Democrat Renee Goodin 3,756.

County clerk—Democrat Virginia A. Leach 3,787.

County auditor—Democrat Joyce Kidd 3,830.

County assessor—Bruce Walker (no party preference) 3,848.

Legislative District 19, Position 1—Democrat Erin Frasier 2,823, incumbent Republican Jim Walsh 2,433; Frasier leads district wide 51.57 percent to 48.43 percent.

Leg. Dist. 19, Position 2—incumbent Democrat Brian Blake 3,277, Republican Joel McEntire 1,038, and Republican David Parsons 849. District wide, Blake tallied 60 percent of the vote, McEntire 21.38 percent and Parsons 18.61 percent.

US Rep., Dist. 3—incumbent Republican Jamie Herrera Beutler 2,187, Democrat Carolyn Long 1,580, Democrat David McDevitt 615, Democrat Dorothy Gasqué 273, Republican Michael Cortney 260, Republican Earl Bowerman 212, and Democrat Martin Hash 38.

US Senate—incumbent Democrat Maria Cantwell 2,697, Republican Susan Hutchinson 1,164, Republican David Bryant 140, Republican Joey Gibson 174, and Republican Glen R. Stockwell 105. District wide, Cantwell tallied 55.45 percent of the statewide vote, Hutchinson 23.83 percent, the only other double-digit percentage.