After Monday’s latest report, Kent leads the congresswoman by 960 votes in the race for the second spot in the Nov. 8 general election

In the latest update of the counted ballots released at 6 p.m. Monday, challenger Joe Kent has passed Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler for the second spot on the Nov. 8 general election ballot in the 3rd Congressional District race for the U.S. House of Representatives.

The latest results showed Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez with a comfortable lead in the race. Gluesenkamp Perez, the co-owner of a car care business, has received 30.97 percent (64,718) of the votes. 

Kent, a former Green Beret who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, has received 22.79 percent (47,623) of the votes. Herrera Beutler, who has served in Congress since 2010, has received 22.33 percent (46,663) of the votes.

On Tuesday when the first returns were released, Herrera Beutler led Kent by 4,707 votes. On Friday, Kent had closed to within 257 votes and the latest report showed him 960 votes ahead of Herrera Beutler.

Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey told Clark County Today Friday afternoon that he estimated there were approximately 30,000 ballots left to be counted in Clark County. After Monday’s update, there were believed to be about 10,000 ballots. The 3rd Congressional District also includes the counties of Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Skamania, and Klickitat, as well as a small sliver of southern Thurston County. The total population of the 3rd Congressional District (as of 2019) was 756,675 and approximately two-thirds of those are Clark County residents.

Kimsey said that he expected the remaining Clark County ballots to be counted by Tuesday afternoon.

Kimsey said there are two tests that would automatically trigger a mandatory recount in the race. If there is a differential of less than 2,000 total votes and if the differential is within one half of 1 percent, then there will be a mandatory recount. Currently, Kent leads Herrera Beutler by 0.46 percent.

Herrera Beutler had received a vigorous challenge from Kent and other conservative Republicans who were enraged by her vote to impeach former President Donald Trump. There were a total of nine candidates in the 3rd Congressional District race. The top two candidates from the Aug. 2 primary election will advance to the Nov. 8 general election.

The election will be certified on Aug. 16.

For Clark County election results, go to https://clark.wa.gov/elections/results

For statewide results, go to https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20220802/default.htm