REPORT – Election results totaling no surprises

After two days of counting ballots in Skagit County and districtwide for state legislative district 10, November election results are similar to August, with the same candidates headed toward the offices they seek. Danny Hagen is handily winning his race for Skagit County Assessor, replacing his boss, Dave Thomas, who is retiring. The Shelter Bay resident, running as an independent, leads Republican Karie Storle by almost 3,700 ballots and over 15 percentage points after votes were tallied daily Nov. 8-9.

In other contested county races. County Commissioner Lisa Janicki has 61.7%, leading by 5,814 votes, against first-time candidate Christian Burns in this countywide contest. Auditor Sandy Perkins has over 58% of the vote and an over 4,000 count lead against challenger Eric Hull. Sheriff Don McDermott is winning with 67.4% of the vote against Kevin Ewing.

Incumbent Germaine Kornegay leads Corrin Hamburg for the Skagit PUD Commissioner 3 position by 597 votes and 2.8 percentage points.

Clyde Shavers will be the new Position 1 Legislative District 10 State Representative, defeating first term incumbent Greg Gilday (R-Camano Island) handily in both Skagit County and districtwide, all of Island and the northeast portion of Snohomish County. The late-breaking criticism last week of Shavers' father, that his son badly misrepresented his Navy service experience, came a week into the voting process and has not affected the outcome.

In Skagit County precincts Shavers has 2,627 votes, 24% ahead of Gilday. Likewise, State Rep. Dave Paul (D-Oak Harbor) was leading challenger Karen Lesetmoe, an Oak Harbor realtor. by almost 1,200 votes, with 64% of the vote for the Position 2 seat.

The Democrats have large leads in Island County, with Shavers up by almost nine percentage points and Paul up by 15 percentage points. That county has almost two-thirds of the district's population.

Gilday has taken 56.5% and Leseetmoe 55% of Snohomish County votes. The county is almost 30% of the district’s population.

Overall, Shaver has an almost 2,500 vote, 5.1% lead and Paul is up 4,108 votes, 8.4%. The Democrats’ margins increased in Skagit County the second day. Skagit County has about 8.7% of the district's population, Island County has 62.3% and Snohomish County 29.1%

U.S. Senator Patty Murray handily won re-election. Statewide she has 56.7% of the vote against first-time candidate, Republican Tiffany Smiley. Smiley carved into Murray's lead in Skagit County: Murray has 55.8% of the vote here.

Congressman Rick Larsen will be reelected to a 12th term to the 2nd Congressional District Seat. In Skagit County he has 57.3% of the vote against Dan Matthews. Districtwide he has gained 61.3% of the vote

Steve Hobbs will be the first Democrat elected to the Secretary of State's office in over 40 years. His Skagit County percentage is 49% against Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson. Statewide Hobbs has 49.7%, Anderson 46.9% and Republican-driven write-in votes tally 3.4%.

All unopposed Skagit county officeholders won re-election, as did the three state Supreme Court justices.

Election results will be updated on the Weekly News website throughout the week, with an update in the Nov. 16 print edition.

Skagit County will certify its vote Tuesday, Nov. 29 and the Secretary of State’s office by Dec. 8.