Legislative District 2 House candidate Matt Marshall, whose previous elected official experience was serving one term on the Eatonville School Board, appears to be headed to an upset victory after a second count of votes Wednesday evening.
The count shows that Republican Marshall was still leading fellow Republican John Snaza with 55.7% of the votes. Snaza previously served as Thurston County Sheriff for 12 years.
Snaza outspent Marshall $152,000 to $30,000 during the campaign, state Public Disclosure Commission data show.
"I'm feeling a little more comfortable," Marshall said about his lead Thursday morning. He said elected officials within the state Republican party have started to call, congratulate and welcome him.
District 2 encompasses a big chunk of Pierce County and a smaller portion of eastern Thurston County.
On a county-by-county basis, Snaza has a slight lead over Marshall in Thurston County with 48% of the vote to his 47%. But in Pierce County, Marshall is leading him by nearly a 2-1 margin, with 60% of the vote to Snaza's 36%.
"It was an uphill battle," said Marshall, "but I had a great team of volunteers who continuously engaged with people in the district and I think that's what paid off in the end."
In Pierce County, almost 70% of ballots have been counted, according to Secretary of State data. In Thurston County that figure is 78%, the data show.
The winner of the District 2 House race will fill the seat left vacant by JT Wilcox.
Elsewhere in the region, incumbent Republicans made a good showing.
State Senate District 2 race
Incumbent Republican Jim McCune was leading Democrat Erasmo Ruiz Gonzalez with 64% of the vote to 35.8%.
State Senate District 19 race
Incumbent Republican Jeff Wilson was ahead of Democrat Andi Day with 61% of the vote to her 38.6%.
State House District 19 Position 1 race
Incumbent Republican Jim Walsh was leading Democrat Mike Coverdale with 60% of the vote to Coverdale's 40%.
State House District 19 Position 2 race
Incumbent Republican Joel McEntire was ahead of Democrat Terry Carlson with 62% of the vote to Carlson's 37.7%.
State House District 20 Position 1
Incumbent Republican Peter Abbarno had a huge lead over Culture Republican Party member Melvin Kaleolani Apana. Abbarno had captured 87% of the vote so far.
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