Friday, November 6, 2026
Editor's note: Adds information and multi-jurisdictional overall total for Proposition 1 from Timberland Regional Library in paragraphs 12-15. Deletes "hundred" in paragraph 3 throughout. Adds voter turnout in paragraph 16.
A second term in office remained within the grasp of Thurston County Commissioner Emily Clouse, who has maintained a consistent margin over her rival for the District No. 5 seat through three days of ballot count releases.
Clouse received 44,806 votes (52.08 percent), compared with 39,717 (46.16 percent) for challenger Nicolas Martinez-Dunning, according to the latest unofficial results from the Thurston County Auditor’s Office Elections Division on Thursday night, Nov. 5
Clouse had a nearly 5,000 vote advantage after the initial ballot count was released on Nov. 3, then upped that total to more than 5,600 votes on Nov. 4 before finding herself with a roughly 5,100 vote lead on Thursday night.
She is seeking reelection to a post that carries an annual salary of $147,936 or $12,328 per month, according to 2026 Thurston County salary data.
Approximately 40,000 votes remain to be counted in the Nov. 3 General Election.
Partisan offices
Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders has amassed an advantage of more than 37,000 votes over challenger Kevin Burton-Crow.
Sanders pulled in 64,953 votes (69.91 percent), compared with 27,686 (29.80 percent) for Burton-Crow, updated unofficial results showed on Thursday night. The position comes with an annual salary of $182,761 or $15,230 per month, according to 2026 Thurston County salary data.
JJ Olson has a more than 14,000 vote lead in his contest with Lynda Nashed Zeman for Thurston County Assessor.
Olson received 48,081 votes (57.32 percent), compared with 33,997 (40.53 percent for Zeman. 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 45,979 votes (51.21 percent), compared with 43,373 votes (48.31 percent) for Garrett Cady. The position comes with an annual salary of $147,936 or $12,328 per month, according to 2026 Thurston County salary data.
The winners of partisan races will be sworn into office in December, and then seated in January.
Ballot measures
Proposition 1 from Lacey Fire District 3 received 19,237 “yes” votes (69.69 percent), compared with 8,366 “no” votes (30.31 percent). The proposition has surpassed the 60 percent threshold required for approval.
Proposition 1 from Yelm Community Schools picked up 5,001 “yes” votes (56.60 percent), compared with 3,834 “no” votes (43.40 percent).
Proposition 1 from Timberland Regional Library received 56,047 “yes” votes (60.68 percent), compared with 36,315 “no votes” (39.32 percent).
The muti-jurisdictional proposition (Grays Harbor, Mason, Lewis, Pacific and Thurston counties) needs a simple majority to pass. The overall number of “yes” votes was 95,385, compared with 75,709 “no” votes, updated unofficial results showed on Thursday night.
A total of 96,442 ballots were cast in the Nov. 3 General Election in Thurston County, according to updated unofficial results on Thursday. Voter turnout was 44.87 percent. There were 214,940 voters on the rolls at the time of the election.
6:45 p.m.
Editor's note: Updates with number of ballots outstanding, as well as totals from sheriff, assessor and clerk races.
A second term in office remained within the grasp of Thurston County Commissioner Emily Clouse, who has maintained a consistent margin over her rival for the District No. 5 seat through three days of ballot count releases.
Clouse received 44,806 votes (52.08 percent), compared with 39,717 (46.16 percent) for challenger Nicolas Martinez-Dunning, according to the latest unofficial results from the Thurston County Auditor’s Office Elections Division on Thursday night, Nov. 5
Clouse had a nearly 5,000 vote advantage after the initial ballot count was released on Nov. 3, then upped that total to more than 5,600 votes on Nov. 4 before finding herself with a roughly 5,100 vote lead on Thursday night.
She is seeking reelection to a post that carries an annual salary of $147,936 or $12,328 per month, according to 2026 Thurston County salary data.
Approximately 40,000 votes remain to be counted in the Nov. 3 General Election.
Partisan offices
Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders has amassed an advantage of more than 37,000 votes over challenger Kevin Burton-Crow.
Sanders pulled in 64,953 votes (69.91 percent), compared with 27,686 (29.80 percent) for Burton-Crow, updated unofficial results showed on Thursday night. The position comes with an annual salary of $182,761 or $15,230 per month, according to 2026 Thurston County salary data.
JJ Olson has a more than 14,000 vote lead in his contest with Lynda Nashed Zeman for Thurston County Assessor.
Olson received 48,081 votes (57.32 percent), compared with 33,997 (40.53 percent for Zeman. 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 45,979 votes (51.21 percent), compared with 43,373 votes (48.31 percent) for Garrett Cady. The position comes with an annual salary of $147,936 or $12,328 per month, according to 2026 Thurston County salary data.
The winners of partisan races will be sworn into office in December, and then seated in January.
6:15 p.m.
Editor's note: Updates with latest totals from the Thurston County Commissioner District No. 5 race. Recasts lede.
A second term in office remained within the grasp of Thurston County Commissioner Emily Clouse, who has maintained a consistent margin over her rival for the District No. 5 seat through three days of ballot counts.
Clouse received 44,806 votes (52.08 percent), compared with 39,717 (46.16 percent) for challenger Nicolas Martinez-Dunning, according to the latest unofficial results from the Thurston County Auditor’s Office Elections Division on Thursday night, Nov. 5
Clouse had a nearly 5,000 vote advantage after the initial ballot count was released on Nov. 3, then upped that total to more than 5,600 votes on Nov. 4 before finding herself with a roughly 5,100 vote lead on Thursday night.
She is seeking reelection to a post that carries an annual salary of $147,936 or $12,328 per month, according to 2026 Thurston County salary data.
4 p.m.
The Thurston County Auditor’s Office Elections Division is expected to release updated unofficial results for the Nov. 3 General Election at approximately 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5.
This page will be updated shortly after the next round of results are released.
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