Monday, November 9, 2026
Thurston County District No. 5 Commissioner Emily Clouse widened her lead to nearly 7,000 votes over Nicolas Martinez-Dunning in the November General Election race.
Clouse received 57,093 votes (52.27 percent), compared with 50,172 (45.93 percent) for Martinez-Dunning, according to updated unofficial results from the Thurston County Auditor’s Office Elections Division on Saturday, Nov. 7. Write-in totals accounted for 1,966 votes (1.80 percent).
With roughly 14,00 ballots outstanding as of Nov. 7, Martinez-Dunning would need to capture more than 75 percent of the remaining total to move ahead in the contest.
Clouse had a roughly 5,100 vote advantage on Thursday, Nov. 5, or slightly less than her margin on Friday, Nov. 6.
She is seeking reelection to a position that carries an annual salary of $147,936 or $12,328 per month, according to 2026 Thurston County salary data.
Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders increased his advantage over challenger Kevin Burton-Crow, having already locked up another term in office.
Sanders received 82,638 votes (69.84 percent), compared with 35,328 (29.86 percent) for Burton-Crow, updated unofficial results showed on Nov. 7. Write-in totals accounted for 360 votes (0.30 percent).
The position comes with an annual salary of $182,761 or $15,230 per month, according to 2026 Thurston County salary data.
JJ Olson stretched out his lead over Lynda Nashed for the Thurston County Assessor's post to more than 16,000 votes on Nov. 7.
Olson received 60,234 votes (56.62 percent), compared with 43,810 (41.18 percent) for Zeman. Write-in totals accounted for 2,343 votes (2.20) percent.
The position comes with an annual salary of $147,936 or $12,328 per month, according to 2026 Thurston County salary data.
In the race for Thurston County Clerk, Nicole Miller received 58,471 votes (51.28 percent), compared with 54,985 votes (48.22 percent) for Garrett Cady. Write-in totals accounted for 563 votes (0.49 percent).
The position comes with an annual salary of $147,936 or $12,328 per month, according to 2026 Thurston County salary data.
Proposition 1 (Bonds for Fire Stations, Training Facility, Logistics Warehouse) from Lacey Fire District 3 received 24,797 “yes” votes (70.05 percent), compared with 10,603 “no” votes (29.95 percent). The proposition has surpassed the 60 percent threshold required for approval.
Proposition 1 (Educational Programs and Operations Maintenance Levy) from Yelm Community Schools received 6,333 “yes” votes (57.54 percent), compared with 4,674 “no” votes (42.46 percent).
Proposition 1 (Regular Property Tax Levy Lid Lift for Library Services, Operations and Maintenance) from Timberland Regional Library received 72,335 “yes” votes (61.41 percent), compared with 45,456 “no votes” (38.59 percent).
The muti-jurisdictional proposition (Grays Harbor, Mason, Lewis, Pacific and Thurston counties) needs a simple majority to pass. The proposition was well ahead of that threshold on Nov. 7, largely because of the support from Thurston County.
Timberland Regional Library (TRL) interim Executive Director Andrea Heisel was comfortable enough with the proposition’s status to issue a statement on Monday, Nov. 9.
“On behalf of Timberland Regional Library, thank you to everyone who participated in this important election,” she wrote. “With the approval of the library levy, TRL will be able to restore open, staffed hours across our five counties, increase our new materials purchasing and reduce wait times, and work with communities to maintain and update our buildings.”
A total of 123,269 ballots had been cast as of Nov. 7. Voter turnout was 57.35 percent. A total of 214,940 registered voters were on the rolls heading into the November General Election.
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