The age of campaigning is over. The time of ballot counting has begun.
With the initial Nov. 4 general election voting results having just come in, we can now see who is winning by a landslide, who is just squeaking by, and what initiatives of the people will overrule the state legislature.
But first, a quick recap for some Plateau voters who may have been surprised by the new names on your ballots this year.
That is because Enumclaw was recently absorbed into Legislative District 5, a prominently Democratic area after a redistricting in Eastern WA caused ripple effects across the state.
Enumclaw used to be a part of LD 31, a Republican stronghold.
Much of Black Diamond was already in LD 5; Buckley remains in LD 31.
This means, for the first time in a decade that Enumclaw could be (and based on the following numbers, likely) represented by a Democrat; the last was former Rep. Christopher Hurst (D), who beat current Sen. Phil Fortunato (R) in a state House race in 2014.
Now, without further ado, the initial results for local (and local-adjacent) races, in order as per the Washington Secretary of State listings:
Nov. 5 update:
LD 5 Sen.
Bill Ramos (D): 52.57%
Chad Magendanz (R): 47.35%
LD 5 REP. POS. 1
Victoria Hunt (D): 54.41%
Mark Hargrove (R): 45.48%
LD 5 REP. POS. 2
Lisa Callan (D): 56.23%
Patrick Peacock (R): 43.68%
LD 31 REP. POS. 1
Drew Stokesbary (R): 64.18%
Sara Sutterfield (D): 35.72%
LD 31 REP. POS. 1
Joshua Penner (R): 61.71%
Brian L. Gunn (D): 38.18%
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
Though this is a state-wide race, Sen. Fortunato is currently an LD 31 Senator. If he ultimately loses this contest, he will remain so until at least the next senate race next year.
Patty Kuderer (D): 57.09%
Phil Fortunato (R): 42.8%