UPDATE: Walsh holds 677-vote lead over Frasier in 19th

By Dan Hammock • November 9, 2018 7:00 pm

Incumbent James Walsh, a Republican, holds a districtwide 677-vote lead over Democratic challenger Erin Frasier in the District 19 Pos. 1 State Representative race after Thursday’s ballot counts.

Walsh, of Aberdeen, had 50.66 percent of the districtwide vote, 26,058-25,381 and appears to be well on his way to retaining the seat he first earned in 2016.

In Grays Harbor County, Frasier leads with 51.84 percent, 6,620-6,151. Frasier also leads in Pacific County with 53.02 percent, 4,585-4,062. Walsh won handily in Lewis County with 68.66 percent of the vote, 2,268-1,035, and in Wahkiakum County with 56.65 percent of the vote, 1,358-1,043. Walsh had also overtaken the lead over Frasier in Cowlitz County as of Friday morning with 50.25 percent of the vote, 12,219-12,098.

Grays Harbor, Wahkiakum and Lewis counties will not count ballots again until the Nov. 27 election certification date; Cowlitz and Pacific counties had counts scheduled for Friday.

County Clerk

After Thursday’s count, Kym Foster still leads Janice Louthan in the race for Grays Harbor County Clerk. Foster has 13,336 votes (51.51 percent) to 12,553 for Louthan.

County Auditor

Joe MacLean is still leading Chris Thomas after Thursday’s release of general election results in the race for Grays Harbor County Auditor. MacLean’s lead, which was 347 votes, is now 314 votes — 13,600 (50.58 percent) to Thomas’ 13,286.