Friday, November 6, 2026
Editor's note: Updates with totals from sheriff, assessor and clerk races in paragraphs 6-11.
The path to a second term in office remained on track for Thurston County Commissioner Emily Clouse, who upped her lead over rival Nicolas Martinez-Dunning in the District No. 5 race in the November General Election.
The total number of ballots cast for Clouse stood at 49,379 (51.82 percent), compared with 44,213 (46.40 percent) for Martinez-Dunning, according to updated unofficial results released by the Thurston County Auditor’s Office Elections Division on Friday evening, Nov. 6.
Clouse had a roughly 5,100 vote advantage on Thursday, Nov. 5, or slightly less than her margin on Friday.
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.
Approximately 30,000 ballots remain to be counted by the Elections Division team, which is scheduled to resume the process at the Ballot Processing Center in Tumwater on Saturday, Nov. 7.
Partisan offices
Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders increased his advantage over Kevin Burton-Crow, and has assured himself another term based on the number of ballots left to be counted.
Sanders received 72,470 votes (70.22 percent), compared with 30,442 (29.50 percent) for Burton-Crow, updated unofficial results showed on Friday evening. The position comes with an annual salary of $182,761 or $15,230 per month, according to 2026 Thurston County salary data.
JJ Olson extended his lead over Lynda Nashed for the Thurston County Assessor post to more than 15,000 votes on Friday from roughly 14,000 votes on Thursday, Nov. 5.
Olson received 53,080 votes (57.19 percent), compared with 37,717 (40.64 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 a tight race for Thurston County Clerk, Nicole Miller received 50,561 votes (50.80 percent), compared with 48,469 votes (48.7 percent) for Garrett Cady, who cut into the advantage by about 500 votes on Friday.
The position comes with an annual salary of $147,936 or $12,328 per month, according to 2026 Thurston County salary data.
6:15 p.m.
Editor's note: Updates with vote totals from Thurston County Commissioner District No. 5 contest and number of ballots left to count.
The path to a second term in office remained on track for Thurston County Commissioner Emily Clouse, who upped her lead over rival Nicolas Martinez-Dunning in the District No. 5 race in the November General Election.
The total number of ballots cast for Clouse stood at 49,379 (51.82 percent), compared with 44,213 (46.40 percent) for Martinez-Dunning, according to updated unofficial results released by the Thurston County Auditor’s Office Elections Division on Friday evening, Nov. 6.
Clouse had a roughly 5,100 vote advantage on Thursday, Nov. 5, or slightly less than her margin on Friday.
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.
Approximately 30,000 ballots remain to be counted by the Elections Division team, which is scheduled to resume the process at the Ballot Processing Center in Tumwater on Saturday, Nov. 7.
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 Friday, Nov. 6.
This page will be updated shortly after the next round of results are released.
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