Legislature: Lovick leads in House race crucial for Dems

ELECTION 2016: RESULTS • STORIES • DATA DASHBOARD

EVERETT — Democratic Rep. John Lovick led Republican Janice Huxford Tuesday in a fiercely fought legislative race that could impact the balance of power in the state House.

Lovick led Huxford 53 percent to 47 percent in the 44th District contest which was the most expensive House race in Snohomish County this year. Nearly $1.1 million was spent in the course of the campaign, half by the candidates and the other half by independent political committees looking to influence the outcome.

Meanwhile, Rep. Mark Harmsworth, R-Mill Creek, held a slightly smaller advantage on Democratic challenger Katrina Ondracek, for the district’s other House seat. He was ahead 52.7 percent to 47.3 percent in a contest that also drew a spate of spending by outside groups, much of it aimed at unseating the incumbent.

In other notable legislative races, Democrat Guy Palumbo appears headed to the state Senate, Republican John Koster looks to be returning to Olympia and Sen. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, is on course to win a second term.

44th District

The duel between Lovick and Huxford is one of a handful of House races on which the results could determine which political party holds the majority in 2017.

Democrats now hold a 50-48 edge on Republicans. Lose one seat and the two parties share power. If the GOP can gain two seats, it will be in the majority for the first time since 1998.

Lovick said he “couldn’t be happier” at seeing the results Tuesday though he knows there are several days of ballot counting to go.

“I am very, very pleased. I hope it will hold,” he said. “I believe it will.”

Huxford, meanwhile, is also confident. She said she garnered many of the late-arriving ballots and thinks the pattern will repeat itself.

“I’m excited. If this follows the same pattern, we’re in good shape,” she said. “Stay tuned.”

This race pitted Lovick, one of the most recognized civic figures in Snohomish County, against Huxford, a small business owner campaigning as a new voice for the community.

Lovick, 65, of Mill Creek, began his political career on the Mill Creek City Council. He served four terms in the state House until getting elected Snohomish County sheriff in 2007 then appointed county executive in 2013.

In 2015, he lost his bid for a full term as county executive to a fellow Democrat, Dave Somers. Lovick entered the race for the state House earlier this year and got appointed to the seat when Democrat Hans Dunshee joined the County Council.

Huxford, 49, of Lake Stevens, is a city planning commissioner and longtime Aquafest board member. She’s also served as a Boy Scout troop leader and is a co-owner, with her husband, of Snohomish Valley Roofing.

Frustration with the state’s regulatory scheme for her company’s hauling of recyclable solid waste is one of the reasons Huxford decided to run. While she said she wants to work on easing the regulatory burden on small businesses, she also focused on providing residents with a different philosophy in Olympia after the long tenure of Dunshee.

As of Election Day, she had raised $301,000 to Lovick’s total of $273,500, according to online records of the state Public Disclosure Commission.

Meanwhile, political allies of Lovick spent $217,431 opposing Huxford, most of it in the form of mailers and television ads as of Election Day. Huxford backers countered with roughly $93,000 in spending against Lovick.

Lovick won the August primary with 50.9 percent while Huxford captured 46.2 percent.

1st District

Palumbo, of Maltby, was ahead of Republican Mindie Wirth of Bothell, 59.6 percent to 40.4 percent in a race to succeed retiring state Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell.

For Palumbo, a Snohomish County fire commissioner and planning commissioner, this is his second try for the seat. He lost to McAuliffe in 2012.

This year, Wirth won the primary and Palumbo edged out Rep. Luis Moscoso, D-Bothell for the second spot.

In the contest to fill Moscoso’s seat, Democrat Shelley Kloba was beating Republican Jim Langston by a margin of 57.9 percent to 42 percent.

Kloba, a member of the Kirkland City Council, campaigned on finding a sustainable source of money for public schools. Langston, who helps run a family childcare business, was making his first run for public office.

In the Position 1 race, incumbent Rep. Derek Stanford, D-Bothell, led Republican Neil Thannisch of Maltby, 63.5 percent to 36.5 percent. Stanford is seeking a fourth term.

10th District

All three of the district’s incumbent Republican legislators were winning Tuesday night.

Bailey was ahead of Democratic challenger Angie Homola by a margin of 54.9 percent to 45.1 percent in a contest for a seat that Democratic Party strategists viewed as a potential pick-up this year. Both candidates are Oak Harbor residents.

With both political parties competing hard, candidates and independent political committees spent heavily in the campaign.

Bailey had reported $377,237 in spending to Homola’s $260,211 as of Tuesday. In addition, the political arm of the Senate Republican Caucus expended $146,396 on mailers and cable television ads attacking Homola’s tenure as an Island County employee and, later, Island County commissioner.

In the House races, Reps. Norma Smith and Dave Hayes are headed to re-election.

Smith, of Clinton, enjoyed a comfortable lead on Libertarian Michael Scott, 72.8 percent to 27.2 percent. Scott Chaplin is running as a write-in Democratic candidate. His votes were not tallied Tuesday night.

Hayes, of Camano Island, was defeating Democratic challenger Doris Brevoort of Mount Vernon, 57.2 percent to 42.8 percent.

39th District

Koster moved closer to returning to the Legislature as he led Democrat Ronda Metcalf 59.3 percent to 40.8 percent Tuesday.

The winner will replace Rep. Elizabeth Scott, R-Monroe, who opted not to pursue re-election.

Koster, of Arlington, previously served three terms as a state representative in the 1990s. He also was on the Snohomish County Council for 12 years. Metcalf, of Darrington, is the general manager of the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe and served eight years on the tribe’s council.

“Looking forward to getting back to Olympia,” Koster said Tuesday night. “Lots of work to do.”

House Minority Leader Dan Kristiansen, R-Snohomish, is on his way to an eighth term. He was beating Democrat Linda Wright 60.1 percent to 39.9 percent. Wright also challenged Kristiansen in 2012 but came up short.

State Sen. Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe, was re-elected to his second four-year term Tuesday. He ran unopposed.

21st District

Incumbent Democratic state Reps. Strom Peterson and Lillian Ortiz-Self were winning handily Tuesday.

Peterson was defeating Alex Hels, a Libertarian, 74.5 percent to 25.5 percent. Peterson , a business owner and former Edmonds City Councilman, is seeking a second term.

Ortiz-Self, of Mukilteo, was beating Republican Jeff Scherrer of Edmonds by a margin of 64 percent to 36 percent. This is a rematch from two years ago when Ortiz-Self captured 58 percent of the vote.

Ortiz-Self was appointed to her seat in 2013. If Tuesday’s results don’t change, she will begin her second full term in January in the district which takes in Mukilteo and parts of Lynnwood, Edmonds and Everett.

38th District

Rep. Mike Sells, D-Everett, was cruising to victory Tuesday with a lopsided defeat of challenger Bert Johnson, of Tulalip.

Sells, a former teacher and leader of the Snohomish County Labor Council, led Johnson 64 percent to 36 percent in the first night of ballot counting. Johnson, who did not affiliate with any political party, is attempting to win his first elected office.

For Position 1, Rep. June Robinson, D-Everett, was unopposed for re-election and will be begin her second full term in January serving the district that includes most of Everett, a chunk of Marysville and Tulalip.

32nd District

Incumbent Democratic state Reps. Cindy Ryu and Ruth Kagi appeared headed to re-election Tuesday.

Ryu, of Shoreline, who is seeking a fourth term, led Republican Alvin Rutledge, of Edmonds, by a comfortable margin of 77.7 percent to 22.3 percent.

Kagi, of Seattle, was beating Republican David Schirle, of Lynnwood, 75 percent to 25 percent. Kagi is pursuing a 10th term in the district that covers most of Lynnwood, parts of Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, Woodway and surrounding parts of unincorporated Snohomish County. It also stretches across the county line to include Shoreline and part of northwest Seattle.

Reporter Noah Haglund contributed to this report.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com