In a year in which nothing seems normal, the certification of Island County’s election results were remarkable in its unremarkableness.
The Island County canvassing board certified the results of the general election last week in a 20-minute meeting. The board is made up of the county auditor, the county prosecutor and the chairperson of the board of county commissioners.
The state will certify the election on Dec. 3.
Island County has a history of high voter turnout. This year it was 85.88 percent, which would be pretty amazing in a normal year. But this year was only a little more than the state average of 84.14 percent.
In the past, Island County’s voter turnout was reliably higher than neighboring Skagit and Snohomish counties, especially in presidential election years. But this year Skagit County’s turnout was ahead of Island County at 86.41 percent.
Snohomish County’s turnout was 85.17 percent.
The final count shows that Island County voters favored Democratic candidates in the election.
Among Island County voters, President-elect Joe Biden dominated President Donald Trump. Biden received 54.56 percent of the vote and Trump got only 42.48 percent.
Still, Trump did better in the county than he did statewide, where he got 38.77 percent of the vote. Biden got just under 58 percent of the ballots in the state.
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Arlington, won 63 percent of the vote in Congressional District 2 while about 56 percent of Island County voters cast ballots in his favor. Oak Harbor resident Timothy Hazelo, a Republican, lost with 36.7 percent in the congressional district, but got 44.5 percent in Island County.
Gov. Jay Inslee received 52.9 percent of the vote in Island County, as compared to nearly 56.6 in the state.
While ballot counting in Skagit County after election night swung two of the three state Legislative District 10 races toward the Republican candidates, the Democratic candidates’ support in Island County remained strong.
Ron Muzzall, a Republican, won the state senate seat with nearly 51 percent of the vote in District 10, which includes Island County and parts of Skagit and Snohomish counties. Helen Price Johnson, a Democrat, received nearly 49 percent.
Among solely Island County voters, however, Price Johnson received 52 percent of the vote.
Likewise, Republican Greg Gilday won the state representative seat in the district with 50.38 percent of the vote and Democrat Angie Homola received 49.4 percent.
In Island County, Homola enjoyed 52.44 percent of the vote.
Incumbent Rep. Dave Paul, a Democrat, retained his seat with 50.35 percent of the vote in District 10. In Island County, he received nearly 53.6 percent.
In the race for Island County commissioner in District 1, the final count had Melanie Bacon, a Democrat, with 25,985 votes or nearly 51 percent. Damian Greene, a Republican, was close behind with 49 percent.
In District 2, incumbent Republican Commissioner Jill Johnson enjoyed a landslide victory over fellow Republican Dan Evans. Johnson earned 27,715 ballots cast in her favor, or more than 61 percent, while Evans received 17,536, or less than 39 percent.
In the contested Island County superior court judge seat, Carolyn Cliff also dominated, with 59 percent of the vote. Challenger Kathleen Patrick received 17,943 votes.
