Whitman County releases initial election results

Tom Handy has narrow lead over Dean Kinzer for county commissioner; about 53 percent voted for Biden, Harris

Over+24%2C000+voters+are+registered+in+Whitman+County.+Voter+turnout+is+about+60+percent.+

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Over 24,000 voters are registered in Whitman County. Voter turnout is about 60 percent.

EMMA LEDBETTER, Evergreen news editor

Initial election results from Whitman County show Tom Handy has a narrow lead over Dean Kinzer for the second county commissioner seat.

Handy has 49.96 percent of the current votes, while Kinzer has 49.49 percent. A write-in candidate has 0.55 percent of the current votes, according to the Whitman County general election website

Incumbent Art Swannack has 93.93 percent of the unopposed vote for the first county commissioner seat. About 6 percent of the votes went to a write-in candidate, according to the website. 

Whitman County Superior Court Judge position 1 is an unopposed race, with incumbent Gary Libey holding 97.32 percent of the votes, according to the website. Over 2 percent of the votes went to a write-in candidate. 

As of 10:10 pm on Election Night, 7,865 people — about 53 percent of the county — voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for U.S. President and Vice President, according to the website. Donald Trump and Mike Pence received 6,394 votes, which is about 43 percent of the county. 

Incumbent Jay Inslee leads against Loren Culp in the gubernatorial race, holding 51.90 percent of the votes, while Culp has 47.77 percent. Less than 1 percent of voters voted for a write-in candidate, according to the website.

Over 55 percent of the county voted in favor of Referendum 90, which would require public schools to provide comprehensive sexual health education, according to the website. 

About 60 percent of people voted in favor of repealing the Carryout Bag Tax for advisory vote 32, according to the website. This vote is non-binding and will not change the law, but will reflect the voting public’s opinion on the law.

About 60 percent of people voted to repeal a tax on heavy equipment rentals for advisory vote 33, according to the website.

About 62 percent of people voted to repeal Senate Bill 6492 for advisory vote 34, according to the website.

Whitman County has 24,705 registered voters, according to the website. About 14,872 ballots have been counted, and 3,000 are estimated to be left. The next count will be updated Thursday at 8 p.m.

Editor’s Note: Future updates will be made in separate articles. This article has been updated to describe advisory votes as non-binding.