The first count of ballots in Clark County for the 2022 general election were released shortly after 8 p.m. on Tuesday and provide the first picture of what results will look like for county, state and congressional elections.
There were nearly 119,000 votes tallied in Clark County during the first count, which is a voter turnout of about 36.4%. The next count is set for 5 p.m. Wednesday. There are an estimated 80,000 ballots left to count.
Federal races
In Washington’s Third Congressional District race, Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez was in the lead after the first count of ballots in Clark County, pushing her into the lead districtwide. Gluesenkamp Perez had about 52.6% of the district’s vote to Republican Joe Kent’s 46.8%. In Clark County, Gluesenkamp Perez’s lead was more pronounced with roughly 58.4% of the vote to Kent’s about 40.9%.
Clark County’s preference for the Democrat in the U.S. Senate race was less pronounced compared to the statewide vote. Incumbent Patty Murray had roughly 54.4% of the county’s vote to Republican challenger Tiffany Smiley’s about 45.5%. Statewide, Murray led with roughly 57.5% to Smiley’s about 42.3%.
Legislative races
Competitive races for Clark County representatives in the Washington State Legislature show the one incumbent of four open seats in the lead as of the first count of ballots.
For Legislative District 17, the position 1 race had Republican Kevin Waters leading districtwide with about 50.9% of the vote to Democrat Terri Niles’ roughly 49%. Niles had the lead among Clark County voters, netting about 50.8% of the first count of votes to Waters’ roughly 49.1%.
Position 2 incumbent Republican Paul Harris leads in his race with about 52.5% of the districtwide vote to Democratic challenger Joe Kear’s roughly 47.4%. In Clark County, Harris leads by less with roughly 51.8% of first-count votes to Kear’s about 48.1%.
Legislative District 18 had a Democrat leading one of the races. As of the first count of ballots, position 1 candidate John Zingale had about 50.7% of the vote to Republican Stephanie McClintock’s roughly 49.2%.
Republican Greg Cheney had a stronger lead in the position 2 race. In the first count, Cheney had about 51.5% of the vote to Democrat Duncan Camacho’s roughly 48.3%.
County races
Races for elected county positions have more pronounced leads than those for seats in Olympia, according to initial numbers.
For Clark County Council District 1, Glen Yung had the strongest lead of the council seats with 58.9% of the vote to Hector Hinojosa’s roughly 40.4%. The District 2 race had Michelle Belkot with roughly 52.4% to Chartisha Roberts’ about 46.3%. For District 5, Sue Marshall led with about 56.7% of the vote to Don Benton’s roughly 43%.
Although council districts are intended to be roughly equal in population, the races featured a different amount of voters. District 5 had about 5,000 more voters than District 2 and about 9,600 more voters than District 1 in the first count.
The Clark County Sheriff’s race also had a clear front runner. As of the first ballot count, current sheriff’s chief criminal deputy John Horch had about 59.4% of the vote to Vancouver Police Department Cpl. Rey Reynolds, who had about 40.2%.
Apart from the sheriff, the only other competitive county executive race had the incumbent with a sizable lead. As of first count, current Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey had about 71.7% of the vote to challenger Brett Simpson’s roughly 28%.
The Clark County Public Utility District also had a commissioner’s race up this year, with longtime incumbent Nancy Barnes looking likely to serve another term. As of the first count, Barnes had about 65.8% of the vote to challenger Don Steinke’s roughly 33.8%.
Charter amendment votes have mixed results
The six amendments to the Clark County Charter up for a vote this year have half with varying degrees of success and the others likely to fail as of the first ballot county.
Amendment 10, which would allow for ranked-choice voting in county-level races, had about a 42.1% approval.
Amendment 11, which would require Clark County Council to convene with county elected executive officials, had roughly 65.7% in support.
Amendment 12, which would add a preamble to the charter, had about 50.9% in approval.
Amendment 13, which would require county elected executives to create a list from their departments of staff to take their place should it become vacant, had roughly 66.1% in support.
Amendment 14, which would reduce the number of signatures needed to be collected for initiatives and referendums at the county level, had about 41.3% approval.
Amendment 15, which would establish a diversity and inclusion officer and an advisory commission, had roughly 38.6% approval.
