Though the election will not be certified until Nov. 29, Auburn City Councilman Chris Stearns appears certain to win the contest for the open Position 2 seat in Legislative District 47.

As of Monday morning, Nov. 14, Stearns (D-Auburn) had received 63.95 % of the vote, or 24,800 votes, to Kent Democrat Shukri Olow’s 30.26 % or 11,735 votes. Write-ins made up 5.79 % of the total.

The latest numbers show the tally barely changed from the first returns Tuesday evening, when Stearns had 66.75% of the vote, or 14,417 votes, and Olow had 27.87 %, or about 6,020 votes.

The winner succeeds incumbent state Rep. Pat Sullivan, who is retiring after 18 years in the Legislature.

Stearns, who was elected to the Auburn City Council in 2019, is the first Native American (Navajo) to serve on the council in the city’s history. Before his election to the city post, Stearns had worked for 30 years as an attorney, government leader, and public policy advocate fighting for justice and human rights.

Olow, an immigrant and former refugee, previously ran unsuccessfully for the Metropolitan King County Council. She is the director of Seattle’s Youth and Family Empowerment division.

The Auburn Reporter reached out to Stearns and Olow for comment but had not heard back from either by Tuesday afternoon.

VOTER TURNOUT

According to King County Elections, the 46,220 ballots counted as of Monday afternoon constitute 51.15 % of the 90,369 registered voters in District 47.

CAMPAIGN FINANCES

According to the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission, as of Nov. 8, Stearns had raised $146,960.68 and spent $129,386.63, and Olow had raised $159,921.50 and spent $125,799.54.

General election results are certified Nov. 29. To see the results, visit kingcounty.gov/depts/elections.aspx.