Here's How Franklin County Stood
November 5, 2024
By: Katherine Trowbridge
The General Election brought unique challenges from redistricting rulings that led to new faces on the ballot to issues like the border and economy. In the end "We the People" exerted our right to vote.
In Franklin County 50.12 percent of registered voters took pen to paper, up significantly from -the 20% voter turnout in the August primary election. Frankin County Elections reported slightly over 23,000 ballots counted with over 5,000 ballots left to count as of shortly after 8pm on election night, Nov 5.
The big issues locally were two propositions. Franklin County Proposition 1 - which would support emergency communications infrastructure to replace a failing VHF system with 800 MHz looks to be failing. Votes stand at 48.77% in favor with the NO vote at 51.23%
Franklin County Fire District #1 also put a Proposition 1 on the ballot asking voters for a levy lid lift. This proposition is also failing at 57.49% with only 42.51% in favor.
Other local races included that for Franklin County Commissioner.
Incumbents in both seats are leading. District 1: Bauman (R) 60.6% to Atkins (R) 38.34 % District 2: Mullen (R) 60.6% to Barrajas (I) 39.16%
Franklin PUD Commissioner 1 looks to see a new face as Pedro Torres Jr (57.49%) leads incumbent Stu Nelson (42.51%).
It is a tight race for Benton Franklin Superior Court Judge with the total vote count from both counties at a mere 0.01% difference. Bronson Brown, who currently holds the seat, comes in at 49.8% and Shawn Sant (Franklin County Prosecutor) at 49.79% - breaking it down to county votes Franklin County: Brown - 46.05%, Sant - 53.71% and Benton County: Brown 57.26%, Sant 48.25%.
With redistricting changes, the majority of Franklin County moved into the 16th Legislative District. Here are the results for the 16th District: (District wide votes in red)
Senator: Perry Dozier (R) 71.32% (64.63%) Kari Isaacson (D) 28.64% (35.32%)
State Representative Position 1: Mark Klicker (R) 71.82% (65.46%) Linda Gunshefski 28.16% (34.5%)
State Representative Position 2: Skyler Rude (R) 72.27% (66.93%) Craig Woodard 27.72% (33.02%)
Franklin County also voted in Legislative District 8
State Representative Pos. 1: Barnard 97.96% (97.4%)
State Representative Pos. 2: Connors (R) 70.1% (70.7%) Christenson (D) 29.82 (29.18%)
The reason for statewide redistricting - creating a fair platform for Hispanic representation led to Legislative District 14 encompassing part of Yakima County into a piece of East Pasco in Franklin County.
Results for District 14 are:
State Representative Pos. 1: Dimas (D) 55.12% (42.04%) Mendoza (R) 44.72% (57.38%)
State Representative Pos. 2: Manjarrez (R) 39.77% (54.74%) Ana Ruiz Kennedy (D) 60.23% (44.97%)
Statewide results are as follows (Franklin County in black).
WA State Governor: Ferguson (D) 57.38% (34.57%) Reichert (R) 42.49% (65.35%)
Lieutenant Governor: Heck (D) 57.8% (33.88%) Mathews (R) 42.09% (66.07%)
Secretary of State: Hobbs (D) 60.11% (37.39%) Whitaker (R) 39.8% (62.57%)
State Treasurer: Pellicciotti (D) 58.96% (36.61%) Haneck (R) 40.94% (63.35%)
State Auditor: McCarthy (D) 52.21% (34.49%) Hawkins (R) 40.66% (63.46%)
Attorney General: Serrano (R) 43.06% (66.24%) Brown (D) 56.85% (33.71%)
Commissioner of Public Lands: Buetler (R) 46.24% (67.62%) Upthegrove 53.53% (32.23%)
Superintendent of Public Instruction: Rykdahl 54.05% (37.18%) Olsen 45.4% (62.41%)
Insurance Commissioner: Kuderer (D) 57.65% (35.15%) Fortunado (R) 42.14% (64.8%)
Washington State US Senator:
Maria Cantwell (D) 60.6% (38.6%) Dr Raul Garcia (R) 39.4% (61.2%)
Washington State - US Congressional Representative District 5:
Baumgartner (R) 68.02% (85.83%) Conroy (D) 31.9% (14.13%)
Washington State - US Congressional Representative District 4:
Sessler (R) 47.89% (48.5%) Newhouse (R) 60.210% (50.01%)
Washington State - US President:
Kamala Harris (D) 59.3% (35.63%) Donald J. Trump (R) 38.4% (62.14%) Robert F Kennedy (I) 1.1% (1.1%)
Look for more results in our upcoming print edition. The election is expected to be finalized with a certification date of Nov. 26. However, in close races, this could be extended.