Election night brought few surprises for candidates running for state representative in the 17th Legislative District, which encompasses east Vancouver and unincorporated portions of Clark County.
The initial vote count shows state Rep. Vicki Kraft, R-Vancouver, ahead of her opponents with 10,297 votes, or 48 percent. Democrat Tanisha Harris was behind her with 9,326 votes, nearly 44 percent of the vote. Although James Tolson appeared on the ballot as a Democrat, he effectively suspended his campaign. He received 1,602 votes, or 7 percent.
Harris, who works as a Court Appointed Special Advocate program specialist with the YWCA Clark County, has secured the support of much of the state’s Democratic establishment, including endorsements from Attorney General Bob Ferguson, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and others.
“This is exactly where wanted to be at,” said Harris, who added that she is anticipating a “blue wave” in the November general election. She said that she will likely pick up the votes that went to Tolson in the primary, giving her a majority in the general.
During her first term, Kraft has sponsored bills geared toward small businesses and has been a vocal supporter of a third bridge across the Columbia River. She couldn’t be reached for comment on election night.
Even though other legislative races with two candidates appeared on the primary ballot, they won’t be decided until the November general election.
In the race for the other state representative position in the 17th Legislative District, incumbent Paul Harris, a Republican, took 11,349 votes, or 54 percent, over Democratic challenger Damion Jiles. Political newcomer Jiles received 9,572 votes, 45 percent of the vote.
In the 18th Legislative District, a GOP stronghold that includes east Clark County and urbanized unincorporated areas, both races for state representative showed surprising results. Democrat Kathy Gillespie, a two-term school board director with Vancouver Public Schools, finished ahead of her Republican opponent with 13,817 votes, or 53 percent.
Larry Hoff, a retired credit union executive, received 12,005 votes, or 46 percent, in his bid against Gillespie to replace outgoing state Rep. Liz Pike.
Incumbent state Rep. Brandon Vick, R-Felida, received 13,017 votes, just over 50 percent. His Democratic challenger, Chris Thobaben, a supply chain consultant and reserve officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, was just behind him with 12,719 votes, or 49 percent.
