County voted Trump, but Presidency still up for grabs

POMEROY–While voters tentatively await the national results for president, in Garfield County, 80.85% of the voters' turned out in a massive effort to weigh in significantly on many County and State positions and issues.

In one of the two local contested campaign races, Larry Ledgerwood (64.13%) unseated incumbent Wynne McCabe (35.56%) for the Garfield County Commissioner 2 position and Jim Nelson (64.25%) won the hotly pursued Garfield County Commissioner 1 race against Vonni (Vonda) Mulrony (34.98%).

Garfield County Auditor Mckenzie Lueck retained in her position with 98.8% of the votes in an uncontested vie for the position.

The another watched race was for the Hells Canyon Circuit Court seat where Commissioner G. Scott Marinella collected the majority of votes in both Garfield and Columbia Counties, but succumbed to defeat in Asotin County in the multi-county race for the Superior Court Judge Position 1, electing Brooke J. Burns with 7,129 (57.38%) of the votes leaving Marinella at 5,261 (42.35%).

In the District 9 races for Senate and House seats, Senator Mark G. Schoesler (GOP-9) with 34,984 votes (66.18%,) retained his seat in the senate leaving Democrat opponent Jenn Goulet, with only 17,623 votes (33.34%), out in the cold.

Legislative District 9 Representative Position 1 Mary Dye, (R-9) received 38,852 votes (75.5%), to scorch Democratic opponent Brett Borden with only 12,061 check marks (23.44%), to retain her seat in the House as did Representative Position 2 Joe Schmick, (R-9), who garnered 42,422 votes (98.26%) in an uncontested race.

In the 5th Congressional District, Garfield County voted Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-5th) into her ninth term with 59.8% approval, followed by Democrat opponent Dave Wilson with 40.44% of the votes. Districtwide, McMorris Rodgers led by 62,488 votes on Election Night, 195,907 to 133,419 for 59.38% of the vote.

President Trump won by a landslide in Garfield County gleaning 71.1% of the votes, leaving Joseph R. Biden and Kamala D. Harris with only 25.87%. As of press deadline, the National race was too close to call, with over one million votes left to count in Michigan, Georgia, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

In the Governor's race, Loren Culp scooped 74.66% of Garfield County votes, leaving Jay Inslee with a sparse 25.59% approval rating. However, Inslee was voted into another term by his voting base with 1,964,141 (59.3%) of the votes followed by Culp with 1,338,491 (40.41%). Write-in vote received 9,762 (0.29%). In Garfield County it was Culp 74.66% and Inslee 24.59%.

Lt. Governor Denny Heck, Democrat, received 1,403,784 (47.11%) of the votes leaving Democrat Mark Liias to pick up 1,002,737 (33.65%) votes and write-in votes garnered 573,063 (19.23%) of the total votes in this three-way race. Garfield County Write-ins received 38.84%, Denny Heck 38.56%, and Marko Lias 22.61%.

Incumbent Secretary of State Kim Wyman defended her position against Democrat Gael Tarleton receiving 1,676,482 (51.8%) of the votes closely followed by Tarleton with 1,556,675 (48.1%) of the tally. The write-in vote received 3,509 (0.11%). Garfield County agreed, with 77.68% of its vote going to Wyman and 22.08% to Tarleton.

Mike Pellicciotto won the State Treasurer position with 1,783,558 (55,54%) votes, from incumbent Duane A. Davidson with 1,424,877 (44.37%) votes. Write-in votes were 2,581 (0.08%). Garfield County voted 76.14% for Davidson and 23.62% for Pellicciotti.

Patrice (Pat) McCarthy (Democrat) won the State Auditor position with 1,935,055 (60.39%) and Chris Leyba Republican 1,266,600 (39.53%) and the write-ins received 2,602 (0.08%). In Garfield County, Leyba received 70.64% and McCarthy 29.04%.

For Attorney General, Democrat incumbent Bob Ferguson retained his position with 1,905,696 (58.81%) votes and Matt Larkin received 1,331,547 (41.09%). Garfield County disagreed and voted 72.73% for Larkin and 27.19% Ferguson.

Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz (Democrat) has 1,893,186 (59.03%) and Sue Kuehl Pederson receives 1,311,303 (40.88%). Write-in received 2,932 (0.09%). Garfield County favored Pederson by 73.38% and gave only 26.46% to Franz.

Superintendent of Public Instruction is Chris Reykdal with 1,672,419 (56.68%) of the votes and Maia Espinoza with 1,009.404 (42.83 %). Write-in received 14,515 (0.49%). Garfield County voted for Reykdal at 51.12%, slightly over Espinoza at 48.43%.

Incumbent Mike Kreidler continues as Insurance Commissioner with 2,131,006 (67.57%) of the votes and Chirayu Avinash Patel with 1,009,404 (32%). The Write-in received 13,550 (0.43%). Patel received 58.53% of the Garfield County vote while Kreidler received 40.46%.

In the race for the Supreme Court Justice Pos. 3 Raquel Montoya-Lewis won with 59.7% to Dave Larson with 39.91%; Pos. 4, unopposed Charles W. Johnson 97.81%; Pos. 6 G. Helen Whitener 67.57% won over Richard S. Serns 31.87%; and for Pos. 7, unopposed Debra L. Stephens received 97.99% votes. In Garfield County votes for Supreme Court Justice: Pos. 3 Dave Larson was 66.07% and Raquel Montoya-Lewis 34.1%. For Pos. 4, unopposed Charles W. Johnson received 98.42%; Pos. 6 with Richard S. Serns getting 50.86% of the vote over opponent G. Helen Whitener receiving 48.48%, slightly less; and Pos 7 Debra L. Stephens 98.52%.

For the Court of Appeals Judges: Division 1, District 1 Judge Pos. 5: David S. Mann gets 98.4% votes; Pos. 6 Bill Bowman 98.32%; Division 1, District 2 Judge Pos. 2 Linda Coburn 98.17%; District 1 Pos. 2 Lisa Worswick; Division 2, District 2 Pos. 1 Lisa L. Sutton 98.37%; Division 3, District 1 Pos. 2 Tracy Arlene Staab 64.03% wins the position, followed by Marshall Casey 35.31%; and Division 3, District 3 Pos. 1 Rebecca Pennell 98.84%. Mann, Bowman, Coburn, Worswick, Sutton and Pennell ran unopposed.

In the Multi-county race, Garfield County Rejected Referendum Measure No. 90 with 69.63% to only 30.37% approved. Statewide, the measure passed with 1,921,700 (59.59%) approval and 1,303,367 (40.41%) rejecting it.

State Advisory Vote No. 32, Garfield County voted 80.66% to repeal and only 19.34% to maintain. Statewide 1,871,048 (59.66%) voted to repeal and 1,265,312 (40.34%) to maintain.

In Garfield County, State Advisory Vote No. 33 was Repealed by 81.21%, to Maintained 18.68%. The State also voted to repeal with 1,790,075 (57.61%) votes.

The State Advisory Vote No. 34 was Repealed by Garfield County voters at 81.43% and those to Maintain was18.57%. For State voters, 1,856,957 (60.25%) repealed it, while 1,225,349 (39.75%) wanted it maintained.

State Advisory Vote No. 35 was Repealed by 69.21% Garfield County voters while 30.79% wanted to maintain it. A goodly portion of the voters statewide, 1,638,506 (52.79%) voted to repeal and 1,465,384 (47.21%0 wanted it maintained.

Washington State Engrossed Senate Joint Resolution No. 8212 was Rejected 67.33% by Garfield County voters with 32.67% to approve. That vote was maintained at the State level when 1,642,168 (52.66%) of the voters rejected the resolution and 1,476,075 (47.34%) voted to approve.