ELECTION 2014: Jayapal to replace Kline, incumbents rule other races

There were no local races or measures on Renton ballots in this election.

Renton’s state and federal legislative representation didn’t change at all following the initial tally in Tuesday’s general election.

There was one open seat in the city’s Olympia delegation. Pramila Jayapal was easily outdistancing fellow Democrat Louis Watanabe to replace long-time state Sen. Adam Kline in the 37th District with 66 percent of the vote.

There were no local races or measures on Renton ballots in this election.

The Tuesday night results are the only available to meet the Renton Reporter’s print deadline. The latest results are available online at kingcounty.gov.

The Elections Department will update results by 4:30 p.m. most weekdays until election certification on Nov. 25. Results may not be updated every day if there are not enough ballots to maintain voter privacy.

Voters have until 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 24 to resolve any signature issues before the election is certified.

In state legislative races, Democrats Zack Hudgins and Steve Bergquist were easily holding on to their 11th District House seats.

Hudgins is running unopposed; Bergquist was ahead of Republican Sarah Sanoy-Wright with about 66 percent of the vote.

In the 33rd District, State Sen. Karen Keiser, a Democrat, was ahead of Republican Martin Metz, with 63 percent of the vote. In House races, Tina Orwall was retaining her Position 1 seat with 64 percent of the vote over Republican Michael J. Siefkes; Mia Gregerson was holding on to her House Position 2 seat over Republican Jeanette Burrage, with 55 percent of the vote.

In addition to the state Senate race in the 37th District, state Reps. Sharon Tomiko Santos and Eric Pettigrew were returned for new two-year terms, each winning handily with 84 percent of the vote in the initial tally. Their opponents were Daniel Bretzke and Tamra Smilanich, respectively.

In the 41st District, state Rep. Judy Clibborn, a Democrat, won re-election, beating Alex O’Neil with 74 percent of the vote. In House Position 2, Democrat Tara Senn, who was appointed in September 2013 to replace Marcie Maxwell as state representative, was beating Republican Bill Stinson with 62 percent of the vote.

Renton’s two congressmen also were returned to office.

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith has easily won a 10th term in the U.S. House of Representatives where he represents the Ninth District, which includes much of Renton.

Election-night returns showed him with near 70 percent of the vote. His opponent is Republican Doug Basler.

In the Eighth District Republican U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert was easily beating Democrat Jason Ritchie, with about 63 percent of the vote. The 8th District includes part of eastern Renton.