County voters choose rematch

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump clinched their party’s nomination for a 2024 election rematch, and their dominance was reflected in Mason County’s presidential primary tallies that evening.

In the first ballot count released at 8 p.m. by the Mason County Auditor’s Office, Biden had 4,003 votes for 89.21% among the Democratic candidates. He was followed by Dean Phillips with 183 votes for 4.08% and Marianne Williamson with 126 votes for 2.81%. Uncommitted delegates received 135 votes for 3.01% and write-in candidates received 40 votes.

For the Republicans, Trump on the first count received 5,179 votes for 73.88%, followed by Nikki Haley with 1,501 votes for 21.41%, Ron DeSantis with 159 votes for 2.27%, Chris Christie with 85 votes for 1.21% and Vivek Ramaswamy 50 votes for 0.71%. Write-in candidates received 36 votes.

The results of the second Mason County ballot count were scheduled to be released Wednesday afternoon, after the Journal went to press. For updated numbers, go to the Journal’s website.

Initial voter turnout was 25.50% with 11,525 ballots counted. Mason County Election Superintendent Marie Stevenson said about 4,500 uncounted ballots were in the office Tuesday evening and ballots were being collected from boxes.

According to Washington law, voters must specify their preferred political party on the primary ballot for it to be considered valid. Hawaii, Georgia and Mississippi also had their primary elections Tuesday.

Washington’s first ballot results came a few hours after Biden clinched a second consecutive Democratic nomination when he won enough delegates in Georgia, pushing past 1,968 for a majority of delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August. Trump won his party’s nomination a few hours later.