Election Results: Nov. 9 update: 5th LD House races still too close to call

State Rep. Jay Rodne edged into the lead by 102 votes in updated election results today in his bid for reelection to the Washington House from the 5th Legislative District.

Rodne ended last night trailing his opponent, Democrat Jason Ritchie, by 295 votes. Rodne is a Republican. He drew heavy fire for a Facebook posting in which he made disparaging remarks about Muslims and called for every American to arm themselves.

In the race for the other House seat in the 5th LD, newcomer Paul Graves is leading by 1,047 votes over Darcy Burner. Graves, a Republican, ended Election night with a 258 vote lead over Burner, the Democrat. This is an open seat.

These remain the only two races that Sammamish Comment is following for Sammamish residents that are too close to call.

The full graphic of today’s results is below.

Continue reading

Breaking News: ST3 projected to win; Goodman defeats Valderrama; Rodne upended in too close to call race

Sound Transit 3, the $54bn mass transit project that will raise taxes by $27bn, carried 55% of the vote on the strength of a large approval in King County. Sammamish Comment projects that ST3 will win when all votes are counted by Nov. 29.

Sammamish Deputy Mayor Ramiro Valderrama lost his bid to unseat Democrat Roger Goodman for a House seat in the 45th Legislative District, which included the northern end of Sammamish.

In what may be an upset, incumbent Republican Jay Rodne–who walked away with the beauty contest in the August primary against newcomer Jason Ritchie for hisHouse seat in the 5th LD–trails Ritchie by 400 votes in what is now too close to call.

Continue reading

Election Night coverage

Today is Election Day. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked today. You may drop your ballot at the Sammamish City Hall until 8pm.

The Seattle media will cover Washington results, but Sammamish Comment will provide focus on four elections tonight:

  • 5th, 41st and 45th Legislative Districts; and
  • Proposition 1, the Sound Transit referendum.

The three LDs include parts of Sammamish.

Continue reading

Sen. Hill loses second fight with cancer

Andy Hill.

Andy Hill.

State Sen. Andy Hill (R-45th) lost his second battle with cancer Monday. He was just 54.

Hill was a respected legislator regardless of party. He was given credit for co-writing recent state budgets during contentious times.

Elected in 2010, he was midway through his second term.

Party leaders will appoint someone to fill his vacancy for the remaining two years of his term.

Continue reading

41st Legislative District Endorsements: Litzow, Clibborn, Senn

The 41st Legislative District covers the southern half of Sammamish (except for the greater Klahanie area, which is in the 5th). The line roughly follows SE 8th Street.

The Senate and two House seats are up for election this year.

Continue reading