Early election returns show voters in the 47th Legislative District heavily favoring Auburn City Councilmember Chris Stearns over fellow Democrat Shukri Olow to fill the open House Position 2 seat.
As of 8:15 p.m., Tuesday, Stearns (D-Auburn) had received 66.75% of the vote, or 14,417 votes, while Olow (D-Kent) garnered about 27.87 %, or about 6,020 votes.
The winner succeeds incumbent state Rep. Pat Sullivan, who is retiring after 18 years in the Legislature.
Stearns, who was elected to the Auburn City Council in 2019, is the first Native American (Navajo) to serve on the council in the city’s history. Before his election to the city post, Stearns had worked for 30 years as an attorney, government leader, and public policy advocate fighting for justice and human rights.
Olow, an immigrant and former refugee, previously ran unsuccessfully for the Metropolitan King County Council. She is the director of Seattle’s Youth and Family Empowerment division.
VOTER TURNOUT
According to King County Elections, 25.48 % of ballots were counted Tuesday evening, or about 28.21 percent of the total 90,369 registered to vote in the district.
CAMPAIGN FINANCES
According to the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission, as of Nov. 8, Stearns had raised $146,960.68 and spent $129,386.63, and Olow had raised $159,921.50 and spent $125,799.54.
General election results are certified Nov. 29. To see the results, visit kingcounty.gov/depts/elections.aspx.
These numbers will be updated at 4 p.m,. Wednesday, Nov. 9.
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