Republicans winning most county, legislative races

With the exception of just a few races, Republican candidates were proving to be the big winners on election night, Nov. 6.

In the 6th legislative district, Cheney’s Jeff Holy was easily defeating his Democratic challenger Jessa Lewis, 54.60 – 45.15 percent, in the race for the state senate seat vacated by Mike Baumgartner, while Republican Rep. Mike Volz was safely ahead of challenger Kay Murano, 53.19 – 46.69 for the House Position 1 seat.

The only race still up for grabs was the House Position 2 seat which pitted Democrat Dave Wilson against Republican Jenny Graham. At press time on Tuesday, Graham held a slim 250-vote lead, 19,672 – 19,422.

In the Spokane County Commissioner District 3 race, Republican incumbent Al French was safely on his way to a third term, easily defeating Democratic challenger Robbi Anthony 56.26 – 43.42 percent.

In the night’s big ticket campaign, 5th District Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers appeared to be safely defending her congressional seat against challenger, Democrat Lisa Brown. McMorris Rodgers led 55.95 – 44.05 in district-wide voting; 52.29 – 47.35 among Spokane County voters.

The seven-term Congresswoman will find a changed political landscape when she returns to Washington D.C. as Democrats appeared safely on their way to regaining control of the House of Representatives.

Other winners on Tuesday were Sen. Maria Cantwell, who appeared to have easily defended her seat against Republican challenger Susan Hutchison. Local, Ozzie Knezovich was receiving 85 percent of the vote for Spokane County Sheriff, Baumgartner was getting 57 percent for treasurer and Tim Fitzgerald was safely ahead of Michael Kirk in the race for county clerk.

In statewide initiatives, carbon tax measure I-1631 appeared headed to defeat with a 57 percent no vote. I-1634, preventing muncipalities from instituting taxes on human consumables, was receiving an almost 55 percent yes vote while I-1639, a measure requiring increased background checks, training, age limitations and waiting periods for sales or delivery of semiautomatic assault rifles was passing with 60.38 percent of the vote.

Finally, I-940, another little publicized measure like I-1639, which would “require law enforcement to receive violence de-escalation, mental-health, and first-aid training, and provide first-aid; and change standards for use of deadly force, adding a ‘good faith’ standard and independent investigation, was also passing statewide with 59.22 percent yes vote.

Locally, voters were saying no to I-1631 by 65.56 percent, but yes to I-1634, I-1639 and I-940 by 65.17, 51.85 and 54.67 percent.

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.