The votes for the 2022 general election are all counted in Clark County with Congressional candidate Joe Kent saying he will file for a recount in his race.
On Nov. 29, the Clark County Canvassing Board certified November’s election results. For most of the results, leads established in the first count of votes following the 8 p.m. deadline on Nov. 8 held.
In total, more than 207,000 votes were counted in Clark County, leading to a voter turnout of about 63.4%. About 57% of the votes were counted as of Nov. 8, with the additional ballots coming in over the subsequent days.
Gluesenkamp Perez ekes out win, Kent calls for recount
For Washington’s Third Congressional District race, Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez flipped the district, winning by less than a percentage-point margin against Republican Kent. As of certification, Gluesenkamp Perez had about 50.1% of the votes across the district to Kent’s roughly 49.3%.
Gluesenkamp Perez won only two of the seven counties in the district, though she had the strongest showing in Clark County, which is the most populous. She had 55.1% of the vote to Kent’s roughly 44.3% in Clark County.
Gluesenkamp Perez started off with a greater lead that shrunk as more ballots were counted. Kent narrowed the difference from nearly six percentage points to only 2,629 votes by the time of the county’s certification.
On Nov. 25, Kent sent an email to supporters stating his campaign was preparing for a recount. At the time, he estimated the recount would cost about $80,000.
Washington state has laws about mandatory recounts, but as of certification, the race does not fit the thresholds. Per state law, a recount can be requested as long as the person who asked for it pays for it.
On certification day, Kent stated he planned on filing for a recount “in the next 24-48 hours” in a social media post. That filing will happen later, as state law requires it to happen within two business days of certification by the secretary of state. Although Washington state counties have certified the election, the secretary of state has until Dec. 8 for its own certification.
One county councilor-elect already sworn in
Three new faces will sit on the Clark County Council next year.
At certification, Clark County Council District 5 Candidate Sue Marshall had about 51.2% of the vote to Don Benton’s roughly 48.4%. Marshall’s lead shrunk over the ballot counting cycle from about 56.7% of the vote in the first count to Benton’s roughly 43%.
Marshall was sworn in the day following certification, something which was a surprise even to her. Since current District 5 seatholder Richard Rylander was appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee in April, he remained in office “until the next general election, and until their successors are elected and qualified,” according to state law.
Rylander ran in the election, but lost to Marshall and Benton in the August primary.
Although Marshall has already been sworn in, Benton has requested a partial manual recount in a dozen precincts within District 5. On Dec. 2, the county announced the recount, which involves 12 of the district’s 96 precincts.
The recount was scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 6 after The Reflector’s press deadline and will continue until all of the ballots are counted or Benton requests the recount to stop, according to the county.
For the other two county council races, Glen Yung had about 57.1% of the vote as of the county’s certification to Hector Hinojosa’s nearly 42% for District 1. In the first count, Yung led with closer to 59%.
For the District 2 seat, Michelle Belkot had about 54.5% as of the county certification to Chartisha Roberts’ roughly 45.1%. Belkot’s lead grew from roughly 52.4% on election night.
In the race for Clark County sheriff, one of the current office’s administrators will lead the department following the retirement of current Sheriff Chuck Atkins. As of the county’s certification, current sheriff’s chief criminal deputy John Horch had about 54.5% of the vote to Vancouver Police Cpl. Rey Reynolds’ roughly 45.1%.
Apart from the sheriff, the only other competitive county executive race shows the incumbent will continue on. The county-certified results show Auditor Greg Kimsey had about 66.7% to challenger Brett Simpson’s nearly 33%.
The race for one of three positions on the Clark Public Utility District Board of Commissioners will see its longtime incumbent return for another term. Nancy Barnes had about 65.7% of the vote as of county certification to challenger Don Steinke’s roughly 33.8%.
Late counts for Republicans lead to sweep in statehouse races
North Clark County’s representation in the Washington State Legislature will remain Republican in 2023, as certified results show all four GOP candidates won their races.
In the 18th Legislative District, the position 1 race to replace outgoing Rep. Brandon Vick, R-Vancouver, will see his endorsed successor take the seat. As of county certification, Stephanie McClintock had about 52.4% of the vote against Democrat John Zingale’s close to 47.5%. Zingale led in the first count of ballots, though votes swung for McClintock in subsequent counts.
In the race for the district’s position 2 seat, Republican Greg Cheney will head to Olympia with about 54.7% of the vote against Democrat Duncan Camacho’s roughly 45.1%. Cheney will replace fellow Republican Larry Hoff, who like Vick, did not run for re-election this year.
Republican Kevin Waters will maintain GOP control of the position 1 seat for the 17th Legislative District, following the exit of current seatholder Vicki Kraft. As of county certification, Waters had about 53.2% of the vote districtwide to Democrat Terri Niles’ roughly 46.7%.
For position 2, incumbent Republican Paul Harris maintained his seat. Harris had about 54.6%, while Democrat challenger Joe Kear had about 45.3% of the vote.
For Legislative District 20, which represents much of North Clark County and includes Ridgefield and La Center after statewide redistricting, the incumbents ran unopposed. Republican Reps. Peter Abbarno and Ed Orcutt alongside state Sen. John Braun will retain their seats in 2023.
