Primary had some one-party top-twos

Last month’s primary election is officially over, producing three one-party runoffs under the “Top Two” format.

The Aug. 19 election, whose results were certified Wednesday by the King County elections department, was the first time two candidates from the same political party and in the same race could advance to the general election. There were three such outcomes, none of them involving voters in the Covington and Maple Valley areas. All six candidates are Democrats – Margarita Prentice and Juan Martinez in the 11th District, Reuven Carlyle and John Burbank in the 36th District, and Scott White and Gerry Pollet in the 46th District.

There was only one race for the Legislature in the Covington and Maple Valley areas that had more than two candidates. In that one, 47th District incumbent Rep. Geoff Simpson and Republican Mark Hargrove were the top two votegetters and will face off in the general election Nov. 4. The candidates in four other contests in the 47th and 5th districts advanced automatically.

Full results of those and other races and ballot measures are online at www.kingcounty.gov/elections.

Countywide, ballots were cast by 34 percent (363,197) of the 1 million-plus registered voters.

“While the turnout was lower than expected, voters seemed very pleased with the new primary method,” said Sherril Huff, county elections director.

Dates for voters to keep in mind heading up to the November election include:

• Oct. 4 – Last day for voters to register online, transfer their address and mail registration forms.

• Oct. 13 – Voters’ pamphlets will be mailed by county elections department.

• Oct. 15-17 – Absentee (mail-in) ballots will be mailed by county elections department.

• Oct. 20 – Deadline for new voters to register in person at the county elections office or at one of the county’s Community Service Centers, including one in Covington at 27331 172nd Ave. SE.

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