Local Walla Walla election updates

2022 Election Coverage Team, 2022 Election Coverage Team
November 8, 2022

The Wire will be providing updates on important state measures and races, county propositions races and legislative district elections. We will be using data provided by Walla Walla County and the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.

As of Nov. 16, 14,600 ballots have been counted. There are still 8,815 ballots left to count. The next ballots are to be counted on Nov. 21 at 5:00 p.m. The certification date is Nov. 29.

OPINION: Secretary Of State a Toss-Up

Bex Heimbrock, Opinion Editor

11:05am PDT: In the state-wide race for Secretary of State, Steve Hobbs (D) has a small lead over Julie Anderson (I). With over 8,000 ballots still needing to be counted, Hobbs’ lead is small enough that the race is still a toss-up. The next ballot count won’t be until November 10th, voters will be waiting with baited breath to see whether Hobbs keeps his advantage over Anderson. Secretaries of State are often the chief election official, something that has increasing political relevance as election denialism moves further into the mainstream. Both Hobbs and Anderson are moderate, and the Republican-endorsed write-in candidate – Brad Klippert, an election denier – has received a measly 3.1% of the total vote.

OPINION: County Commissioner Too Close To Call

Bex Heimbrock, Opinion Editor

11:00am PDT: Acosta, Fulmer lead with tough on crime platforms.

Gabriel Acosta (R) soared above Michelle Morales (D) in the race for County Prosecutor. Acosta pledged increased support for police, alongside standard conservative talking points. Gunner Fulmer squeezed ahead of Darren Goble and write-in candidates with a small but distinct lead in the race for County Commissioner, though the race is still too close to call with over 8,000 ballots left to count. Fulmer has previously come under scrutiny for his trumped-up claims about crime surges and drug use. County Commissioners oversee the county’s management, including budget and finances. Under Fulmer, Walla Walla can expect an increase in funding for police.

Write-in Candidate Danielle Garbe Reser responded to a request for comment by The Wire via email, writing that she “ran to stand up for the values and issues that so many in this county care about: women’s reproductive rights, democracy, our environment, and for more transparent and accessible local government.” Regardless of the election outcomes, Reser plans to “keep advocating for our county and these issues, running CiviCompass to make campaigns more equitable, and volunteering for Whitman.”

OPINION: Results to Roll In Soon

Bex Heimbrock, Opinion Editor

7:50pm PDT: We can expect results to start rolling in as soon as 8pm PDT when polls close in Washington. I’ll be watching the Senate to see if incumbent Patty Murray (D) retains power over Tiffany Smiley (R). US House of Representatives District 5 in Washington will also be an important race, with Natasha Hill (D) going up against incumbent Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R). Rodgers and Smiley, like other GOP candidates in Washington, have both adopted tough on crime platforms. For her part, Hill’s platform calls for overhauling the criminal justice system and increasing accountability of law enforcement agencies.

OPINION: What's At Stake in Walla Walla

Bex Heimbrock, Opinion Editor

5:36pm PDT: What do we stand to gain or lose in this election?

County Commissioner

Gunner Fulmer (R) is running against Darren Goble (R), with Danielle Garbe Reser (D) competing as a write-in candidate.

Fulmer has a distinctly new-age, Trumpist tough on crime platform. Fulmer’s rhetoric harkens back to the Reagan era of DARE and excessive law enforcement. Goble sets himself apart from Fulmer by campaigning as the friendly, ‘reliable’ face of Walla Walla (quite literally; Goble’s face, superimposed over wheat fields, is at the center of his campaign website). Finally, for the Democrats, Danielle Garbe Reser is campaigning on a patriotic, accountability-centered platform.

Democrats have increasingly had to decide whether to run ‘respectable’ candidates like Joe Biden or more popular, young, candidates like John Fetterman. Reser’s outcome in this election may provide a signal for Dems moving forward; how to beat, or lose to, the GOP.

Washington State Advisory Vote No. 39 (Increase tax on aircraft fuel) –

Nov. 9, 2:00 p.m. PDT: Repealed with 59.2% of vote

4:00 p.m. PDT: Repealed with 59.3% of vote

6:00 p.m. PDT: Repealed with 61% of vote

Nov. 11, 3:00 p.m. PDT: Repealed with 59.2% of vote

Washington State Advisory Vote No. 40 (Create new tax on rideshare companies)-

Nov. 9, 2:00 p.m. PDT: Repealed with 53% of vote

5:00 p.m. PDT: Repealed with 52.8% of vote

6:00 p.m. PDT: Repealed with 61% of vote

Nov. 11, 5:00 p.m. PDT: Repealed with 52.7% of vote

Walla Walla Proposition No. 1 –

Nov. 8, 10:00 p.m. PDT: Yes with 56.48% of vote

Washington State Secretary of State –

Nov. 8, 10:00 p.m. PDT: Steve Hobbs, Democrat, leads with 49.97% of vote

Nov. 9, 2:00 p.m. PDT: Steve Hobbs, Democrat, leads with 50% of vote

5:00 p.m. PDT: Steve Hobbs, Democrat, leads with 50.1% of vote

Nov. 10 8:00 a.m. PFT: Steve Hobbs, Democrat, wins with 50.1% of vote

Legislative District 16 State Representative Pos. 1 (Results from Walla Walla County)-

Nov. 8, 10:00 p.m. PDT: Mark Klicker, Republican, leads with 65.55% of vote

Nov. 10, 10:00 p.m. PDT: Mark Klicker, Republican, leads with 70.63% of vote

Legislative District 16 State Representative Pos. 2 (Results from Walla Walla County)-

Nov. 8, 10:00 p.m. PDT: Skyler Rude, Republican, leads with 67.65% of vote

Nov. 10, 10:00 p.m. PDT: Skyler Rude, Republican, leads with 72.96% of vote

Walla Walla Assessor –

Nov. 8, 10:00 p.m. PDT: Byron Burress, Republican, wins unopposed.

Walla Walla Auditor –

Nov. 8, 10:00 p.m. PDT: Karen Martin, Republican, leads with 68.11% of vote.

Nov. 10, 10:00 p.m. PDT: Karen Martin, Republican, leads with 68.31% of vote.

Walla Walla Clerk –

Nov. 8, 10:00 p.m. PDT: Kathy Martin, Republican, wins unopposed.

Walla Walla County Commissioner District 3 –

Nov. 8, 10:00 p.m. PDT: Gunner Fulmer, Republican, leads with 41.73% of vote.

Walla Walla County Commissioner race is too close to call.

Walla Walla Coroner –

Nov. 8, 10:00 p.m. PDT: Richard Greenwood, Republican, wins unopposed.

OPINION: What's At Stake in Walla Walla?

Bex Heimbrock, Opinion Editor

4:58pm PDT: What do we stand to gain or lose in this election?

County Prosecutor

Michelle Morales (D) is running against Gabriel Acosta (R). Morales has focused her campaign efforts on attempting to modernize the WW Prosecutor’s office, whereas Acosta has focused his messaging on increasing resources for the office. Prosecutors determine whether someone should be charged for a crime, as well as the plea bargaining and bail process. Acosta’s tough on crime stance has garnered the support of local business owners, but Democrats like Morales appeal to voters looking for long-term solutions to crime — as they promise to treat the underlying causes of violent crime. This difference in rhetoric will impact the future of Walla Walla’s incarcerated populations; whether they grow, decrease, or stagnate.

Walla Walla Prosecuting Attorney –

Nov. 8, 10:00 p.m. PDT: Gabriel Acosta, Republican, leads with 62.57% of vote.

Nov. 10, 10:00 p.m. PDT: Gabriel Acosta, Republican, leads with 62.96% of vote.

Walla Walla Sheriff –

Nov. 8, 10:00 p.m. PDT: Mark Crider, Republican, wins unopposed.

Walla Walla Treasurer –

Nov. 8, 10:00 p.m. PDT: Gordon R. Heimbigner, Republican, wins unopposed.

Walla Walla District Court Judge (Full Time) –

Nov. 8, 10:00 p.m. PDT: Kristian E. Hedine wins unopposed

Walla Walla District Court Judge (Part Time) –

Nov. 8, 10:00 p.m. PDT: Jared Hawkins leads with 62.49%. of vote

Sources predict Hawkins will win this election with about half the votes being counted.

Prescott Joint Park and Recreation District Proposition No. 1 –

Nov. 8, 10:00 p.m. PDT: Yes, with 66.98% of vote

Columbia School District No. 400 Proposition 1 –

Nov. 8, 10:00 p.m. PDT: No, with 57.58% of vote

The 2022 Election Coverage Team consists of Abby Malzewski, Editor-in-Chief; Zac Bentz, Publisher; Annalie Reed, Chief Copy Editor; Gillian Mackay-Brown, Managing Editor; Bex Heimbrock, Opinion Editor; and Kasey Moulton, Podcast Editor.