Hansen, Olsen to advance to November election in District 23, Position 2 race

Bainbridge Islanders Drew Hansen and James M. Olsen will advance to the General Election in this 23rd Legislative District’s most closely watched House race.

Hansen, the Democratic incumbent, has received 51.8 percent of the vote, while Olsen, the Republican challenger, took in 40.7 percent in the race for Position 2.

In the first vote tally released on Election Night, 9,494 people cast their ballot for Hansen, while 7,456 voters preferred Olsen.

Democratic challenger Henning B. Larsen of Silverdale pulled in 7.3 percent of the vote, but did not do well enough to head into the General Election under the state's top two primary. He received 1,348 votes.

Hansen and Olsen will face off for the House Position 2 race in the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

In the House Position 1 race, Democratic incumbent Sherry Appleton and Republican Tony Stephens will advance to the General Election.

Appleton received 60.4 percent of the vote, compared to Stephens’ 39.4 percent.

So far, 11,274 voters picked Appleton as their choice, compared to the 7,356 people who voted for Stephens.

In the state Senate race, Democratic Sen. Christine Rolfes was ahead with 64.4 percent of the vote, while her Republican opponent Bret A. Treadwell had garnered 35.2 percent of the vote in early returns.

In the initial vote county, Rolfes received 11,931 votes to Treadwell’s 6,521 votes.

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