UPDATE: Kirkland State Reps Goodman, Springer Maintain Primary Leads

UPDATE, Aug. 8, 4:40 p.m.: Counts just released by King County Elections show little change in results issued after Tuesday's primary, with Kirkland's incumbent state legislators still ahead in the race for spots in the Nov. 7 general election. With 19,255 of 84,702 registered voters counted, and a low turnout expected, Democrat Roger Goodman boosted his lead slightly for the 45th District Position 1 seat, with 48.94 percent of the votes, to 44 percent for Republican challenger Joel Hussey of Redmond. In the race for the Position 2 seat, Democrat Larry Springer took 55.8 percent of the vote to Republican challenger Jim Thatcher of Redmond's 44 percent.

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Original story:

Early returns in Tuesday’s primary election show Kirkland’s two incumbent state representatives, Larry Springer and Roger Goodman, maintaining comfortable leads over their opponents.

With just 19.25 percent of the 45th Legislative District’s 41,702 voters counted (a low voter turnout is expected), Democrat Springer held 55.64 percent of the votes counted for the Position 2 seat to 44.24 percent for his only opponent, Republican newcomer Jim Thatcher of Redmond. Since the top two move on to the Nov. 7 general election, Springer and Thatcher will face each other again.

In the Position 1 race, Goodman took 48.81 percent of the votes counted to 44 percent for his Republican opponent Joel Hussey of Redmond. Democratic candidate Jacob Bond trailed with just 7.1 percent, making it all but certain that Goodman will face Hussey again on Nov. 7.

Before the early vote totals were announced, Springer, currently finishing his fourth term, said at a campaign party at Kirkland's restaurant that he hoped to win the primary and gain momentum.

"You always want to go into the general having won the primary, because that's momentum," he said. "But with the low voter turnout, you never know."

Thatcher, Springer's opponent, was pleased at his results.

"From the small results we are looking good so far, at 44 percent," he said at a Republican party reception in Bellevue. "Anything above 40 I would consider a big positive" with the money being spent on the Democrat side.

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