With half of the seats in the state Senate and every seat in the state House up for grabs, Democrats and Republicans appear to be headed to a street-to-street battle this fall to determine who holds the power in Olympia.

In a state where the election rules advance the top two vote-getters in any primary to the general election, regardless of party affiliation, voters in the 47th and 31 Legislative Districts saw few surprises in the early results of the Tuesday, Aug. 7 primary,

In the primary for state Senate 31 Legislative District, Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, who is heavily favored in the rural, majority Republican district, received 10,948 votes, or 55.39 percent, of the total 19,764 votes available, while Immaculate Ferreria, D-Sumner, rolled up 7,627 votes or 38.59 percent. Jeff Benson, who stated no party preference, garnered only 1,189 votes, or 6.02 percent.

In the primary for Legislative District 31 State Representative Position 1, which is split between Pierce and King County, Democrat Victoria Mena and Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, ran uncontested for the right to represent their parties, so they will square off in November.

In the primary for State Representative Position 2 Legislative District 31, the King County results showed Morgan Irwin, R-Milton, with 3,636 votes, or 54.39 percent, and Mark Boswell (D), with 2,708 votes or 40.51 percent. Steve Skutt, who stated no party preference, finished the night with 341 votes, garnering distant 5.1 percent of the total of 6,685 votes available.

In the primary contest for Legislative District 47, state Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn, and Mona Das, D-Covington, ran uncontested for their parties nominations, so both advance to the general election.

In the primary for Legislative District 47 State Representative Position 1, incumbent Mark Hargrove, R-Covington, picked up 9.217 votes, or 49.82 percent of the total of 18,501votes available, while Democrat Debra Entenman collected 8,776 votes or 47.44 percent, forecasting a race closer than the incumbent would have preferred, but advancing both to the November general

Finally, in the primary for Legislative District 47 State Representative Position 2, Pat Sullivan, D-Covington, picked up 10,659 or 57.89 percent of the 18,412 total votes available, while while Ted Cooke (R) picked up 4,555, or 24.74, percent, and fellow Republican Lindsey Shumway rolled up 3,198 or 17.37 percent of the vote.