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