Dave Upthegrove Advances to General Election

Dave Upthegrove, a Democrat and King County Council member, has secured his position in the November general election for Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands after a hand recount confirmed his second-place finish by a narrow margin of 53 votes over Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson. With a total of 396,306 votes, Upthegrove will face former U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, who placed first in the primary with 419,297 votes. This recount was one of the closest in state history, prompted by an initial count that showed just a 51-vote difference between Upthegrove and Pederson. The primary elections revealed a strong Democratic presence, with 57% of the votes going to Democratic candidates overall. Both campaigns engaged in efforts to 'cure' ballots that had errors, allowing over 10,000 voters to fix issues before the initial certification. The general election is scheduled for November 5, 2024, setting the stage for a competitive race ahead.