Susan Fagan
Republicans will fill Eastern Washington House seats following three special elections.
The first was in the 9th District, which includes Pullman and Cheney.
Both candidates in the 9th were Republican, as the state’s “Top Two” primary advances the top vote getters regardless of party. Susan Fagan was leading that contest at last count, holding about 55 percent of the vote to Pat Hailey’s 45 percent, with roughly 56 percent of the vote tallied.
The two were vying to fill the seat previously held by Republican Steve Hailey, who died before completing his term.
Republicans scored a key moral victory with a lopsided defeat of the only statehouse Democrat from rural Eastern Washington.
Republican challenger Terry Nealey was easily outpolling Democratic Representative Laura Grant in the race for the 16th Legislative District, which includes the cities of Pasco and Walla Walla. Nealey’s margin stood at about 58 percent to 42 percent, with about 60 percent of the expected vote counted in unofficial returns.
Grant was running to complete the term of her late father, Bill Grant, who died earlier this year. Laura Grant was appointed to the seat by county officials, but had to run in Tuesday’s special election to keep the job. Nealey will now finish out the remainder of the term, and must run for re-election next fall.
The final contest saw Republican Representative David Taylor, of Moxee, easily retain his appointed seat. (AP)
