The incumbent candidates in state and county races affecting Whidbey Island were ahead of challengers in the first count of ballots Tuesday night.
As expected, the race between state Sen. Barbara Bailey and Angie Homola, former Island County commissioner, was relatively close. The race is especially important to state political parties as Bailey’s win was key to flipping the senate to Republican control four years ago.
Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, is at the end of her first term as a state senator, following a career as a state representative. She received 53 percent of the vote, or 18,225 votes, from Island County and Skagit County. The results from Snohomish County — also a part of District 10 — weren’t available by press time Tuesday night. Homola received 16,176 votes, which was 47 percent of the vote.
“I’m really happy the voters voted for me,” Bailey said after results were announced. “I’d also like to thank Angie, she ran a great race.”
Two Island County commissioners also overcame challengers in the election.
Island County Commissioner Jill Johnson, a Republican from Oak Harbor, received 59.5 percent of the vote, or 19,945 ballots cast in her favor.
John Fowkes, a Democrat from Oak Harbor, got 41 percent, or 13,582 votes.
Island County Commissioner Helen Price Johnson, a Democrat from South Whidbey, won 19,176 votes, or 56 percent. Republican challenger Gary Wray, a Coupeville resident, received 14,797 ballots, which is 44 percent of the vote.
Two incumbent state representatives were up for election this year and beat challengers.
Dave Hayes, a Republican from Camano Island, is ahead of his challenger, Mount Vernon Democrat Doris Brevoort. Hayes has 23,976 votes, which is 55 percent and Brevoort has 19,299, or 45 percent.
Rep. Norma Smith, R-Clinton, is far head of Libertarian challenger Michael Scott, a Camano resident. Smith has 73 percent of the vote while Scott has 27 percent.
Ballots cast for the last-minute write-in candidate Scott Chaplin, a Langley Democrat, will be counted at a later date.
