Republican state Rep. Lynda Wilson captured the early lead ahead of her Democratic rival Tim Probst on Tuesday night in the race to replace Sen. Don Benton in the 17th Legislative District Senate race.
Wilson received 54.06 percent of the vote, compared with Probst’s 45.94 percent, according to initial returns.
“It’s fantastic,” Wilson said after seeing the results Tuesday night, adding she’s pleased her message resonated with the voters.
When Benton announced he wasn’t seeking re-election, Republicans recruited Wilson to run for the seat.
“I’m very grateful to the voters and I’m so happy for the state of Washington,” she said. “It’s truly important for the state.”
The race between Wilson and Probst garnered statewide interest and was considered one of a handful of races that could determine which party controls the Senate.
While campaigning, Wilson said it was crucial that Republicans keep the majority in the Senate. With Republicans in control of the upper chamber, she said, they could block Democrats’ efforts to raise taxes and pass climate-change legislation.
Probst ran against Benton in 2012 and lost by a mere 76 votes. On Tuesday, he was trailing Wilson by 3,590 votes.
Wilson served one term in the House. She co-owns DeWils Industries, a kitchen cabinet manufacturing company with her husband, Tracy Wilson.
Probst is the director of workforce development strategic initiatives for the Washington State Employment Security Department. He served in the House from 2009 to 2013.
For the 17th Legislative District House seat Position 1, the seat to replace Wilson, Republican Vicki Kraft had a narrow lead over Democrat Sam Kim on Tuesday night.
Kraft, who described herself as philosophically aligned with Wilson, works for the Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit think tank that promotes individual liberty, free enterprise and limited government.
Initial results showed Kraft had 50.55 percent of the vote, compared to Kim’s 49.45 percent.
After Kim announced he was running, the self-described lifelong Republican switched parties and declared himself an independent Democrat. Kim works as Clark County’s chief information officer.
Incumbent state Rep. Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, sailed to his fourth term by defeating challenger, Democrat Martin Hash, for the 17th District’s Position 2 House seat with 62.17 percent of the vote.
