Position 1

In the Position 1 race in the 35th District for House of Representatives, Kathy Haigh had a slim lead over her challenger Dan Griffey. Haigh, a Democrat, will return to Olympia where she has represented the 35th District since 1998. In early returns, she outpaced her opponent 50.34 percent of votes to 49.6 percent.

“I’m optimistic,” she said. “It’s been like this over the past two election cycles. As the numbers come in, I am certain that I will maintain a 50 percent-plus lead. I’ve worked hard and I’ve tried to run an honest campaign.”

According to the Washington Secretary of State’s Office, she had a 23-vote lead, with some 15,000 ballots yet to be counted in Thurston County shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday.

She ran a campaign that was based on her commitment to education, citing that she had supported “wise investments in education funding and a four year balanced budget while holding the line on taxes and regulations.”

She said she was committed to listening to the people of her district and responding to their needs. She said she favors funding for full-day kindergarten, technical skills centers and community colleges. A focus during her campaign was that she wanted to work to keep state government more responsive and accountable.

She is a veterinarian and has had a practice in Mason County for 36 years.

Her opponent, Dan Griffey, who has been a fire fighter for the past 27 years, ran a campaign based on his resolve for parental rights, property rights, Second Amendment rights, “upholding citizen’s votes, funding education first and fighting for those who can’t defend themselves – our youth, disabled and elderly.”

A Republican, he has served as a state committeeman in the Washington State Republican Party. This was his first attempt to run for the state office. He has owned his own business prior and was a truck driver.

“We worked really, really hard,” Griffey said Tuesday evening as the votes came in. “I’m proud of the campaign group. We’re still optimistic and it’s closer than we’ve ever been. We’re looking forward to the closing numbers.”

Position 2

In the Position 2 race in the 35th District, incumbent Drew MacEwen was re-elected over political newcomer Tammey Newton by a 62.6 percent to 37.2 percent vote.

MacEwen, a Republican  attributed his victory to his voting record.

“I stood on my record,” he said. “Voters know I am bipartisan and I will work with all parties to get things done. I think that resonated with voters.”

MacEwen said his first work will be to construct a state budget that addresses education funding and transportation reform.

“Certainly McCleary is big,” he said. “I’ve already drafted a bill that I plan to introduce that addresses that. And looking at the B&O taxes on businesses is something else that we’ve got to address.”

MacEwen was first elected to the House in 2012. This time around, he ran on a campaign of working across party lines such as when he did in the last legislative session to pass a state budget.

He also introduced bi-partisan legislation to reduce the tax burden on small business. He is a business owner; president of Falcon Financial Inc. in Union, owner of Cornerstone Coffee Shop in Bremerton and Smoking Mo’s Restaurant in Shelton.

During the campaign, he said he would continue to fight for funding education first and reducing class sizes. MacEwen is also a Navy Submarine veteran.

His opponent, Democrat Tammey Newton, was not available for comment on Tuesday evening.

She said during the campaign that she would make education a top priority, use her experience to help businesses grow and create jobs, and work in a bipartisan fashion to solve problems. She campaigned as a strong supporter of Second Amendment Rights and said she would work to preserve the area’s hunting and fishing heritage.

She is the current chairman of the Mason County Housing Coalition and a former small business owner.

Freelance writer Seraine Page contributed to this report.