Fewer than a hundred votes now separate the two candidates seeking to challenge Lewis County Commissioner Sean Swope in the general election, with an estimated 2,300 votes remaining.
After the Lewis County Auditor’s Office released updated results from the August primary at around 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Swope continues to lead the field with 2,879 votes, or 46.47%, as he seeks a second term on the board. Democrat Damian Bean, a first-time candidate, is currently in second place with 1,698 votes, or 27.41%, while Republican Peter Lahmann, who currently serves as a commissioner at the Port of Centralia, received 1,599 votes, or 25.81% of the vote.
Nineteen voters have submitted ballots with a write-in candidate in the race. The auditor’s office anticipates releasing updated results at 5 p.m. Thursday. The election will be certified on Aug. 20.
When the initial results were released Tuesday night, Bean placed second with 28.12%, or 1,326 votes, while Lahmann narrowly trailed Bean with 25.92% or 1,222 votes.
According to the auditor’s office, voter turnout sits at 39.71% in Lewis County.
The top two vote-getters will advance to the general election, where they will battle to represent District 1 on the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners. Unlike the primary election, the race will open up to voters across Lewis County during the general election.
Fellow incumbent Lindsey Pollock continues to lead challenger Christina Riley with 59.23% of the vote, though both candidates are certain to advance to the general election.
In the initial results, Pollock led Riley with 3,131 votes, or 59.32%, to 2,050 votes, or 38.84%.
