SEATTLE (AP) — A progressive Democrat has edged into the second spot in the race for the 9th Congressional District.
After Pierce county updated its ballot count Thursday night, Democrat Sarah Smith was 196 votes ahead of Republican Doug Basler. Her lead dropped slightly from the 376 vote advantage she had when King County updated its count. If her lead holds, she’d advance to the November ballot along with Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, who has represented the district for more than two decades.
Under Washington’s primary system, all candidates appear on the same ballot and the top two vote getters advance to the general election, regardless of party.
Sarah Smith was recruited to run by Brand New Congress, the same group that backed Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who defeated incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley in New York’s Democratic primary this summer.
The next ballot update from both counties is Friday afternoon