Republican match-up set for Kitsap commissioner race, plus a challenge in Dist. 1

Two Republicans moved ahead for the Kitsap County commissioner District 2 position and the District 1 race will now be contested in November's general election, as vote totals from the Aug. 6 primary election held after totals were certified by the Kitsap County Auditor's office Tuesday.

Republicans Sean Murphy and Oran Root, who finished with 24.74% and 23.01% of the total among the 25,242 votes cast in the district largely comprised of South Kitsap and a slice of Bremerton, held the first and second positions as additional ballots rolled in following the Aug. 6 primary. Two of the three Democrats in the race swapped positions, but none garnered the votes to make the top two. Jeff Coughlin (21.65%) moved ahead of Stacey Smith (20.80%), and Matt Macklin trailed with 8.8%.

If Democrats attempt to back a write-in candidate against Murphy and Root, who both look to replace longtime Democratic commissioner Charlotte Garrido, none of the three primary challengers will be the name. State law prohibits a candidate from running as a write-in after failing to qualify out of the primary election, the Kitsap County Auditor's office confirmed Wednesday.

However, the write-in process will create a general election contest for incumbent Commissioner Christine Rolfes, in District 1. Rolfes, appointed to her position in June 2023 after the resignation of Rob Gelder, was the only candidate listed on primary ballots in the race. But a write-in candidate, Scott Henden of Kingston, was named on 1,174 ballots cast. That was approximately 4% of total votes in the district, and allows Henden, running as an independent, to be added on the general election ballot. State law requires a write-in candidate to finish with more than 1 percent of the vote and be among the top two in a primary to be added for the general election.

Rolfes finished with more than 95% of the vote in the primary, or 24,479 votes.

More: See all updated Kitsap County totals from August's primary

In the general election, all voters in Kitsap County will weigh in on both commissioner positions.

According to the auditor's office, just more than 45% of registered voters in Kitsap County participated in the primary, a number likely to rise in November's general election, when a presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is on the ballot. In 2020, the last presidential year, Kitsap's voter turnout was nearly 84%.

The other closest local primary race came Kitsap Public Utility District commissioner contest, where incumbent Heather Pauley advanced easily with 49.61% of the total. The second slot was decided by fewer than 250 votes, however, with Rick Tift (25.72%, 5,801) advancing over John Poppe (24.67%, 5,565).

All ballot measures for fire and EMS services , including in Bremerton, Central Kitsap, North Mason, Poulsbo and North Kitsap held, with voters approving the requests in each district. The Bainbridge pool bond failed to pass after all votes were counted, with the 52.65% in favor falling short of the 60% supermajority needed.

Legislative races are also set for the general election in the three districts that include all of parts of Kitsap. They are, with primary vote totals:

23rd Legislative District

House Pos. 1: Democratic Rep. Tarra Simmons (29,433), Republican Kurt Robertson (14,973)

House Pos. 2: Democratic Rep. Greg Nance (22,250), Republican Jaime Miles (14,370)

Senate: Sen. Democratic Sen. Drew Hansen (32,553), Republican Lance Byrd (14,031)

26th Legislative District

House Pos. 1: Democrat Addison Richards (12,055), Republican Jesse Young (8,054)

House Pos. 2: Republican Rep. Michelle Caldier (8,069), Democrat Tiffiny Mitchell (7,174)

35th Legislative District

House Pos. 1: Republican Rep. Dan Griffey (7,333)

House Pos. 2: Republican Rep. Travis Couture (5,369), Democrat James DeHart (3,837)

To see all final vote totals from the Aug. 6, 2024 primary, visit this story at www.kitsapsun.com .

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Republican match-up set for Kitsap commissioner race, plus a challenge in Dist. 1