Incumbent state Rep. Jim Buck, R-Joyce, maintained a slight lead over his Democratic challenger, Kevin Van De Wege of Sequim, in the first round of vote counting Tuesday night.
“I think the lead is going to hold,” Buck said.
“With the lead that we got here in Clallam County and in Grays Harbor, it should hold.”
Van De Wege said that the results were not as positive as he would have liked, but he remains optimistic.
“We started out in the worst position we could be in, but we are doing nothing but gaining ground,” said Van De Wege, a 30-year-old political newcomer who was heavily supported by Democratic interests across the North Olympic Peninsula.
“We expect to gain more ground as more ballots are counted [on Friday].”
Buck is seeking his sixth two-year term in the state House as one of the two representatives for the 24th District (Clallam and Jefferson counties and most of Grays Harbor County).
