Whatcom County Still Counting Votes

In Whatcom County, the races for (42nd LD) State Senate and State House pos. 1 are too close to call with at least 20% of the ballots still to be counted. However, most of the election results are pretty clear (and just as I thought they'd turn out). I-920 and I-933 were resoundingly rejected. I-937 passed. A solid majority re-elected Maria Cantwell. Rep. Rick Larsen got two out of three votes, again! (Attention Pundits: WA-02 isn't a swing district anymore!) 42nd LD Representative Kelli Linville has overwhelming approval with 70% of the vote. Justice Susan Owens has over 60%, proving that Whatcom County voters aren't interested in special interest judicial candidates like Stephen Johnson.

Whatcom County, Washington - General Election Results
Last Updated: November 8, 2006 4:22 PM

INITIATIVE TO THE PEOPLE 920
Yes 38.35%
No 61.65%

INITIATIVE TO THE PEOPLE 933
Yes 36.88%
No 63.12%

INITIATIVE TO THE PEOPLE 937
Yes 56.39%
No 43.61%

U. S. SENATOR
DEM - MARIA CANTWELL 57.30%
REP - MIKE McGAVICK 38.99%
LIB - BRUCE GUTHRIE 1.99%
I - ROBIN ADAIR 0.57%
GRN - AARON DIXON 1.15%

UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE 2nd
DEM - RICK LARSEN 66.70%
REP - DOUG ROULSTONE 33.30%

SUPREME COURT JUSTICE POS. 2
NP - SUSAN OWENS 60.47%
NP - STEPHEN JOHNSON 39.53%


STATE SENATOR 42nd DST
DEM - JESSE SALOMON 48.84%
REP - DALE E. BRANDLAND 51.16%
Total 30,376 100.00%

STATE REP 42nd POS 1
DEM - JASPER MACSLARROW 47.30%
REP - DOUG ERICKSEN 52.70%
Total 30,355 100.00%

STATE REP 42nd POS 2
DEM - KELLI LINVILLE 69.20%
REP - CRAIG MAYBERRY 30.80%
Total 29,408 100.00%

[Source: Whatcom County Auditor]

The B'ham Herald has an article about the close races.

ELECTIONS
2 legislative races remain close
Brandland and Ericksen battle Dem challengers

SAM TAYLOR
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

Whatcom County still had two close legislative races as of Wednesday, one seemingly a surprise.

State Sen. Dale Brandland, RWhatcom County, was leading about 51 percent to 49 percent against Democratic challenger Jesse Salomon as of Wednesday afternoon — a race that seemed like a sure thing for Brandland before Election Day.

The other race, between State Rep. Doug Ericksen, RFerndale, and Democrat Jasper MacSlarrow had Ericksen ahead about 53 percent to 47 percent. ...

I found it puzzling that the reporter wrote:

The close race between Salomon and Brandland seems to be a twist from the norm, with Salomon receiving a strong turnout with help from his lengthy doorbelling campaign and out-of-county contributions that came to about half the money he raised.

And:

About 75 percent of MacSlarrowÂ’s contributions came from out of the county, which included more than $42,000 from state Democrats to try and oust his opponent.

But he didn't find it worth mentioning that 87.5% of Brandland's and 72.5% of Ericksen's campaign funds came from out-of-county. What's up with that, Sam?