Community Government

Hutchins takes lead in 26th District House race

Republican Spencer Hutchins now has a narrow lead in the race for a seat in the state House representing the 26th Legislative District.

The most recent ballot totals posted by the state Secretary of State’s Office show Hutchins leading Democrat Adison Richards by 260 votes out of 69,022 votes counted. Hutchins has 50.49 percent of the vote (37,507 total votes) to Richards’ 49.45 percent (36,741 votes).

Spencer Hutchins Courtesy photo

Richards led on election night, Nov. 8, with 51.1 percent. That narrowed to 50.89 percent on Nov. 9, and Hutchins overtook Richards in subsequent tallies.

The 26th Legislative District includes Gig Harbor, the Key Peninsula, southern Kitsap County, Port Orchard and Bremerton.

Hutchins took the lead on his strength of support in the Pierce County part of the 26th. The Republican earned 51.5 percent of Pierce County 26th District votes (20,364 votes). Richards was stronger in Kitsap County, where he garnered 50.6 percent of the vote — but only 17,582 votes.

The two candidates, both young law school graduates with roots in the Gig Harbor area, formed a close bond on the campaign trail. The two described each other as friends, and Hutchins at one point criticized his own party over anti-Richards material mailed to 26th District voters.

The could be headed for an automatic recount. Mandatory recounts happen when less than 0.5 percent and less than 2,000 votes separate the candidates, according the the Washington Secretary of State’s Office.

The election is due to be certified on Nov. 29.