08/05/2026
PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS: EARLY RETURNS
County levy lid lift failing; McKinney, Duresky will face off in 4th
BY DON NELSON
In the first round of primary election returns released Tuesday (Aug. 4) by the Okanogan County Auditor’s Office, one local money measure was winning with a nearly two-thirds yes vote, while one was losing by about the same margin.
• OKANOGAN COUNTY: An Okanogan County request to approve a levy lid lift was being soundly rejected by voters in first returns. The tally was 4,109 no (68%) compared to 1,950 yes (32%).
County commissioners proposed the property tax increase to help fill an approximately $2-million hole in the county budget.
The levy lid lift would raise the property tax levy rate by about 27 cents per $1,000 of valuation — up from 88 cents — with a maximum rate of $1.15. The increase would generate about $2.3 million in additional revenue, according to the ballot proposal.
The ballot measure is for a single-year permanent levy lid lift, which means that the amount levied in 2027 would become the base for increases in future years. Those increases would be limited to 1% of the new amount. State law allows for four types of lid lifts — single-year and multi-year, which can be temporary or permanent.
The measure requires a simple majority to pass.
• THREE RIVERS HOSPITAL: An annual property tax levy that funds emergency room services at Three Rivers Hospital in Brewster was being renewed among Okanogan County voters by a margin of 1,507 yes votes, or 66%, versus 769 no votes, or 34%. The measure requires a 60% supermajority to pass.
A small portion of the hospital district is in Douglas County, but the significantly larger Okanogan County constituency typically carries the day in levy elections. Douglas County voters were approving the levy request with 156 yes votes (54%) to 135 no (46%).
Each year since 2020, the Three Rivers Hospital has asked voters in the hospital district to approve the levy, which is used primarily to keep the emergency room open and staffed with board certified physicians 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Voters in the hospital district, which includes the Methow Valley, have approved the one-year special tax levy each year.
Like other public hospitals in the region, Three Rivers contracts with a staffing agency, ERx Group, that provides board-certified physicians. Three Rivers also hires mid-level providers through ERx to provide care for patients in acute care, under the supervision of an ER physician.
The levy measure on the Aug. 4 ballot would authorize the hospital district to collect about $1.46 million in property taxes in 2027, at a levy rate of 33 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. That’s the same rate voters have approved annually since 2020.
Three Rivers Hospital is a not-for-profit Critical Access Hospital, officially called Okanogan Douglas County Public Hospital District No. 1. It serves the largest geographic area of any public hospital district in Washington, covering about 2,500 square miles in north Douglas County, south Okanogan County, and the Methow Valley.
The district includes the communities of Brewster, Bridgeport, Carlton, Mansfield, Mazama, Methow, Pateros, Twisp, and Winthrop.
Two elections of local importance — one state, one federal — were also being sorted out in Tuesday’s primary election.
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Two clear leaders — one Republican and one Democrat — are emerging as the candidates who will advance to the November general election in the race to replace 4th District Congressman Dan Newhouse, who is retiring after six terms.
From among 11 candidates, the leader as of about 9 p.m., according to the Associated Press, was Republican Amanda McKinney of Yakima, with a districtwide vote of 25,633 or 35%. Second was Democrat John Duresky of Richland, with 22,657 votes or 31%. Republicans Jerrod Sessler (14%) and Matt Boehnke (10%) trailed.
Among Okanogan County voters, Duresky was the leader with 2,392 votes (39%) to McKinney’s 1,921 (31%).
WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 7
In the 7th Legislative District, incumbent Sen. Shelly Short of Addy, a Republican, was outpolling challengers Ronald L. McCoy, Chewelah, Independent; David Swoap, Tonasket, Republican; and Brandon Ray Medina, Brewster, Republican.
Districtwide, Short led with 12,948 votes (58%) to McCoy’s 6,191 (28%), Medina’s 1,795 (8%) and Swoap’s 1,273 (6%). The top two advance to the November general election.
Short drew about 58% of the early vote in Okanogan County, trailed by McCoy with 29%, Medina with 9% and Swoap with 4%.
Neither incumbent state Rep. Hunter Abell nor Rep. Andrew Engell, both Republicans, drew a challenger.
OKANOGAN COUNTY OFFICES
Most elected Okanogan County filed for re-election without opposition. Those that are contested include:
• Incumbent Okanogan County District 3 Commissioner Jon Neal is being challenged by Trinity Hightower Stucker of Tonasket. Both are Republicans. In first returns, Neal held an early lead with 1,017 votes (51%) to Stucker’s 983 votes (49%). Both advance to the November general elections. Only District 3 residents vote in the primary; all county residents vote in the general election.
• Gene Davis of Okanogan filed for the coroner’s position being vacated by the retirement of David Rodriguez, as did Cindy Jensen of Oroville. In early returns, Davis drew 3,556 votes or 62% to Jensen’s 2,192, or 38%. Both advance to the November general election.
• Jodie Barcus, recently appointed sheriff after the resignation of Paul Budrow, filed and will be challenged by Gisberth (Giz) Gonzalez, a Sheriff’s Office deputy. In Tuesday’s early returns, Barcus drew 3,805 votes, or 69%, to Gonzalez’ 1,700, or 31%. Both advance to the November general election.
Chief Deputy Auditor Jamie Groomes said about 1,800 ballots remain to be counted.
Offices that are nonpartisan were not included on the primary election ballot.
