More than 3,000 ballots trickled in after the Aug. 7 primary election, causing one race to flip who was on top and others to be separated by only a few votes.

Voter turnout

According to the unofficial results tabulated at 4 p.m. Aug. 9, 14,941 voters cast their ballots of the 25,109 registered voters in Jefferson County - 59.5 percent of voters.

This was 3,158 more ballots than were initially received as of 8 p.m. on election night.

There are also eight estimated ballots left to count, which means markings were not clear enough to accurately count the ballot as a vote.

“The ‘estimated ballots left to count’ does not include ballots postmarked on or before Election Day that may continue to arrive through the mail or ballots with signature issues that must be corrected before they can be counted,” the Jefferson County Elections Office website stated.

These results are set to be certified at 9 a.m. Aug. 21 to become official results.

Flipped outcome

According to the unofficial tally Aug. 9, a new precinct committee officer was named to District 104.

Linda Sutton came in on top with 193 votes, with her opponent Marty Gilmore trailing at 177 votes. 

As of the unofficial results Aug. 7, Gilmore was on top with 153 votes, while Sutton trailed at 149 votes.

This was the only race where the outcome had changed since the initial ballot count.

PCOs

Other unofficial results show the following winners for PCO, which were all Democratic candidates:

District 101: Ann Waldron 108 votes - Franklin Wallbrown 9 votes;

District 102: Ben Rutherford 52 votes - Ray Hunter 37 votes;

District 103: Chelsea Pronovost 42 votes - Thomas Meyer 33 votes;

District 201: Patricia Jones 157 votes - Clayton White 63 votes;

District 204: Beth Stroh-Stern 129 votes - Jolene Elkins 96 votes;

District 301 Gail Lucas 48 votes - John Hamilton 33 votes;

District 302: Jean Ball 101 votes - Maj-Britt Peacock 57 votes;

District 304: Linda Brewster 202 votes - Alise Moss Vetica 199 votes;

District 306: Bethel Prescott 104 votes - Nancy Lee Mann 83 votes, Jeff Graham 52 votes;

District 500: Linda Karp 247 votes - Amber Rose 185 votes;

District 502: Gerald Lesser 100 votes - John Pizzo 80 votes;

District 505: John Fabian 152 votes - Juliet Parfrey 85 votes;

District 700: Cynthia Koan 149 votes - Tobi McEnerney 141 votes;

District 702: Gary Engbrecht 118 votes - Rick Dennison 81 votes;

District 703: Gary Larson 141 votes - Jackie Aase 90 votes;

District 704: Jonathan Bakin 96 votes - Carol Gallup 71 votes;

District 706: Bruce Cowman 337 votes - Patricia Walat 218 votes;

District 708: Elizabeth “Libby” Urner Wennstrom 231 votes - Charlotte Wells 169 votes;

District 709: John Austin 308 votes - Nate Malmgren 111 votes.

Uncontested races

In the four uncontested races, not a single candidate received a vote from all 14,941 constituents. 

The Jefferson County Elections Office also noted if write-in candidates were cast, they did not appear on the results “if the total number of write-in votes is too small to affect the outcome of the election.”

Jefferson County Assessor Jeff Chapman received 10,368 votes; Auditor Rose Ann Carroll received 10,431 votes; Clerk Ruth Gordon received 10,459 votes; while Treasurer Stacie Prada received 10,182 votes.

Chapman, Carroll, Gordon and Prada all hold their respective seats currently.

Commissioners

The extra ballots drove the race for Jefferson County Commissioner District 3 slightly closer, with Republican Jon Cooke still in the lead with 1,686 votes (36.8 percent), advancing him to the general elections in November.

Democrat Greg Brotherton came in with 1,603 votes (34.98 percent), making him a contender in the November election as well.

In the initial count, Cooke received 1,382 votes, while Brotherton receive 1,265 votes.

Democrat Ryan Mc Allister did not advance, receiving 876 votes (19.12 percent) along with Democrat Craig Durgan, who received 417 votes (9.1 percent).

Contested county races

The race for Jefferson County prosecutor and sheriff will not be decided until the general election in November. However, the unofficial results show the incumbents trailing behind in both race.

Democrat Michael Haas came in with 5,360 votes (45.37 percent) in the prosecutor race.

Democrat James Kennedy was ahead with 6,455 votes (54.63 percent).

Independent candidate David Stanko was trailing with 5,255 votes (37.62 percent) in the sheriff’s race.

Democrat Joe Nole received 8,715 votes (62.38 percent).

Representatives

There are two Representative positions in the 24th district to be determine in the general election - position 1 and 2.

In position 1, Democrat Mike Chapman was ahead with 10,098 votes (70.17 percent).

Republican Jodi Wilke received 4,293 votes (29.83 percent).

In position 2, Democrat Steve Tharinger received 9,900 votes (70.29 percent), while Republican Jim McEntire received 4,185 votes (29.71 percent). 

These seats, which is currently held by Chapman and Tharinger, are multi-county races, and these results only reflect the voters of Jefferson County. 

U.S. Candidates

Port Townsend native Tyler Myles Vega (progressive) fell short in advancing in the U.S. Representative 6th Congressional district with 920 votes (6.37 percent).

Republican Douglas Dightman and Democrat Derek Kilmer will advance to the general elections, after receiving 3,653 and 9,878 votes, respectively.

Kilmer currently holds the seat.

Democrat Maria Cantwell and Republican Susan Hutchison will advance as candidates for U.S. Senator. Cantwell, who currently holds the position, received 9,301 votes (65.13 percent), while Hutchison received 2,768 votes (10.38 percent).

There were 29 candidates in all vying for the position with the remaining 27 candidates each receiving 1.83 percent of the votes or less.

Levy

As of the Aug. 9 count, the Chimacum School District No. 49 levy passed with 3,201 “yes” votes (58.73 percent). Of the votes cast, 2,249 people voted “no” to renew a levy for capital improvements, including facilities, technology and safety in the Chimacum School District.

This number went up from the original Aug. 7 vote of 2,504 “yes” votes and 1,837 “no” votes.