OLYMPIA — Incumbent Steve Tharinger and newcomer Adam Bernbaum were leading in their respective bids for a state representative seat in the 24th Legislative District, and veteran legislator Mike Chapman was leading in his race for state Senate following initial returns Tuesday night.
Tharinger, a Democrat, had 56.9 percent of the vote (37,993 votes) compared with challenger Terry Roberts, a Republican, who had 43.02 percent (28,728 votes).
Bernbaum, a Democrat, had 56.3 percent (37,568 votes) while Matthew Roberson, a Republican, had 43.6 percent (29,055 votes).
Chapman, a Democrat, had 56.4 percent (37,733 votes) and Marcia Kelbon, a Republican, had 43.5 percent (29,106 votes).
Tharinger, 75, of Port Townsend has served in the state House of Representatives since 2012. He won 53.8 percent of the vote in Clallam County (18,265 votes) while Roberts, 64, of Quilcene had 46 percent (15,660). In Jefferson County, Tharinger won 74 percent of the vote (11,882 votes) and Roberts had 26 percent (4,167 votes).
Bernbaum, 32, of Port Angeles won 53 percent of the Clallam County vote (17,942 votes) while Roberson, 38, of Port Angeles had 47 percent (15,910 votes). In Jefferson County, Bernbaum led at 74 percent (11,860 votes) to Roberson’s 26 percent (4,167 votes).
Chapman, 61, of Port Angeles, who has served as a state representative from the district since 2017, had 53.5 percent of the Clallam County vote (18,234 votes) while Kelbon, 65, of Quilcene had 46.4 percent (15,818 votes). In Jefferson County, Chapman had 72.4 percent (11,617 votes) and Kelbon had 27.5 percent (4,415 votes).
