Joe Kent completes comeback in 3rd Congressional District race

After Tuesday’s latest report, Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler concedes the 3rd Congressional District race for the two spots in the Nov. 8 general election.
Jaime Herrera Beutler • Joe Kent

After Tuesday’s latest report, Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler concedes the 3rd Congressional District race for the two spots in the Nov. 8 general election.

Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler issued a statement Tuesday afternoon conceding the battle for the two spots on the ballot for the Nov. 8 general election in the race for the 3rd Congressional District House of Representatives seat.

In the latest results posted at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Herrera Beutler trailed Joe Kent by 869 votes. Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez leads the race with 31.09 percent (67,615) of the votes. Kent is second with 22.71 percent (49,392) of the votes and Herrera Beutler was third with 22.31 percent (48,523) of the votes.

“Thank you, Southwest Washington, for entrusting me six times with the privilege of representing you in Congress,’’ said Herrera Beutler, who has served in Congress since 2010. “Ever since I was first elected to this seat I have done my very best to serve my home region and our country. Though my campaign came up short this time, I’m proud of all we’ve accomplished together for the place where I was raised and still call home.”

Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey told Clark County Today that there were about 300 ballots left to be counted in Clark County, the largest county in the 3rd Congressional District. The district also includes the counties of Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Skamania, and Klickitat, as well as a small sliver of southern Thurston County. 

Kent, a former Green Beret who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, made a post on his campaign Facebook account Monday.

“We are in the lead & feeling very strong,’’ Kent wrote. “Thank you to all our supporters. Now, more than ever, we must unite to save our nation. The enemy is organized & on the attack, we have to be ready to fight back.’’

On Aug. 2, when the first returns were released, Herrera Beutler led Kent by 4,707 votes but Kent steadily trimmed that lead since and passed the congresswoman on Monday.

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 0.40 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.

Herrera Beutler’s term will end on Jan. 3, 2023. She closed her Tuesday statement by saying, “Serving you in the United States Congress these past twelve years has been the honor of my lifetime.’’

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


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7 Comments

  1. Vince

    The honor of your life Jamie? Yet you stained it permanently by voting to impeach a sitting President without allowing due process to happen. That is why over 65% of your bosses voted against you.

    Congrats Joe Kent!

    Reply
    1. Amanda Blake

      She earned the honor and was duly elected. Just because the facts were there and she did what was her duty to vote to impeach #45 who created his own rules with total disregard for democracy. You and your followers are totally scary in attempting to undermine democracy. A lifetime Republican will not be voting for Kent who has no experience and is just a Trumper wantabee, follower. DT could care less about Kent or anyone here except to bolster his ego.

      Reply
      1. Vince

        I’m not sure what alternate reality you are viewing Amanda. The facts did not then nor do they now support impeachment of 45. 45 was not dangerous to democracy as we are not a democracy, we are a representative republic always have been. We do use tenets from republics and democracies. I will always support and defend this republic. And if that scares you democrats, so be it, the USA will not be the oligarchy you democrats want.

        Reply
  2. Margaret

    Votes still being counted. Anything could happen in WA state. In 2004, a Republican won the governors race. Then misplaced ballots were “found” and voila, the Democrat incumbent was declared the winner. the Seattle PI news reported, ” The evidence of votes from dead people is the latest example of flaws in an election already rocked by misplaced votes and allegations that there were thousands more votes counted than actual voters.”

    Reply
    1. Wolfie

      You are not wrong. However, the spotlight is on and the fraud will be much much harder to pass. Joe won because we stood up and said enough. The fight is just starting. We are a republic, not a democracy. Keep strong!

      Reply
    2. Mary

      This is why we need Brett Simpson in as auditor. Kimsey still won’t allow an independent audit of ballots from 2020. Folks DO NOT vote early. This is how they figure out how many ballots to “find.” Always vote on election day.

      Reply

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