In one of the big surprises of the evening, state Rep. Joel McEntire, R-Cathlamet, was the only lawmaker across the 19th and 20th legislative districts to be trailing in the initial results for the Aug. 4 primary election.
The preliminary results were released just after 8 p.m. Tuesday, and saw Democrat challenger and Longview resident Terry Carlson leading the packed field with 44%, representing 11,678 votes. McEntire came in close behind with 40.84%, representing 10,830 votes.
By the second count on Wednesday afternoon, Carlson was at 43.05% and McEntire was at 42.08%
Both men will advance to the November general election under the state’s top-two primary. An updated ballot tally was expected on Wednesday. The results will be certified by Aug. 21.
The two Republican challengers, Jimi O’Hagan and Daniel Bradley, both captured between 7% and 8% of the vote individually with over 2,000 votes each.
Not long after the preliminary results were posted, Carlson took to his campaign Facebook page to thank his supporters and celebrate his campaign for office, saying “we have a reason to celebrate tonight.”
“Together, we've built a campaign that reached every corner of this district, and tonight's results show what's possible when people come together around a shared vision,” Carlson said.
On Wednesday morning, McEntire also published a brief announcement on a Facebook page stating that he had “made it through the Primary Election with flying colors.”
“I will have a full report for you on actual numbers in a few days when more ballots get counted,” McEntire said. “Until then, I am FOCUSED on November.”
McEntire is the only one of the four incumbent state lawmakers across the 19th and 20th legislative districts to face a significant primary challenge this year, battling against not only a Democrat opponent but also two opponents from his own party.
Carlson collected more votes than McEntire in Cowlitz, Grays Harbor and Pacific counties while McEntire earned more votes in Lewis, Thurston and Wahkiakum counties.
McEntire’s seatmate in the 19th Legislative District and chair of the Washington state GOP, Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, appeared to fend off a single Democratic challenger handily by nearly 10 percentage points.
Walsh hauled in 14,803 ballots for 54.6% of the vote while Democrat Kevin Moynihan recorded 45.25% with 12,269 ballots in his favor.
Incumbent 20th District Republican Reps. Peter Abbarno, R-Chehalis, and Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, were well ahead of their Democrat challengers.
Abbarno led Andy Zahn with 65% of the vote while Orcutt was ahead of Evan Jones with about 62% of the vote.
The three state lawmakers — Walsh, Abbarno and Orcutt — face rematches with their opponents in the general election with the Washington state primary advancing the top two candidates in each race.
Abbarno faces Andy Zahn and Orcutt is up against Evan Jones.
See updated results here (be sure to click the "view multi-county totals" link): https://results.votewa.gov/results/public/lewis-county-wa/elections/20260804
