Thursday, October 1, 2026
NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON — As of 8 p.m. Nov. 4, preliminary ballot counts are in for Chelan and Douglas counties following Washington’s 2025 General Election. Turnout stood at 20.7% in Chelan County and 16.4% in Douglas County, compared with a statewide average near 22% at the same reporting point.
This year’s ballot was a mixture of contested and uncontested races, with many incumbents cruising to another term in their respective positions, and a few match-ups that were interesting to watch.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment: Allowing money in Washington’s long-term-care fund to be invested.
Statewide, the measure was approved by 57.9% of voters and rejected by 42.1%. In Chelan County, voters narrowly supported the amendment, 51.2% to 48.8%. In Douglas County, voters went the opposite direction, rejecting it 59.2% to 40.8%.
Chelan County voters roughly mirrored statewide sentiment, while Douglas County diverged sharply, rejecting the amendment by nearly 20 points. The measure appears on track for passage statewide, paving the way for investment of Washington’s long-term-care trust fund.
(Results reflect Chelan County totals only.)
City of Chelan
• Council #2 — Agustin Benegas Garcia leading.
• Council #6 — Tim Hollingsworth ahead.
• Council #7 — Shane Collins and Ben Laughlin separated by a slim margin.
City of Cashmere
• Council #3 — Shela Pistoresi and Joyce Williams within a few points of each other.
City of Leavenworth
• Council #4 — Mike Bedard leads Ron Duncan.
• Council #5 — Shane Thayer ahead.
• Council #6 — Marco Aurilio and Clint Strand neck-and-neck.
• Council #7 — Rob Eaton holding a comfortable lead.
City of Entiat
• Council #3 — Marie C. Stenberg leading John H. DeFrees.
Lake Chelan School District No. 129 — Bond Measure
Preliminary bond results show the measure leading by a razor-thin margin; final results will be reported separately.
Manson School District No. 19
• Director #4 (At Large) — Krysta Westmoreland and Aurora Flores close race.
• Director #5 (At Large) — Byron Schmidt and Greg Neff within single digits.
(Results reflect Douglas County totals only.)
Port of Douglas County
• Commissioner #1 — Jim Huffman leading with 56.2% over Mike Mackey (43.7%).
City of East Wenatchee
• Council Position 3 — Paul Harrison ahead with 67.8% over Nikki Darling (32.2%).
City of Bridgeport
• Council Position 3 — Jacqueline “Jackie” Hentges holds a strong lead with 71.2% over Avis Christensen (28.8%).
Eastmont School District
• Director District #3 — Jason Heinz leading with 54.6% over Kirsten Larsen (45.4%).
Douglas County Hospital District #2
• Commissioner #3 — Katie Shafer ahead with 53.3% over Adam L. Brown (46.7%).
• Commissioner #4 — Erin Peterson and Jordana LaPorte remain nearly tied.
Douglas County Fire District #2
• Commissioner #2 — close contest between incumbent and challenger; margin within single digits.
Here are the likely final results, barring a late wave of write-in votes, for uncontested races in both counties.
Chelan County
Donn Etherington – Port of Chelan County Commissioner Dist. 1
R. Mike Worden – Cascade School Dist. 228 Director #1
Zachary Miller – Cascade School Dist. 228 Director #3
Trey Ising – Cascade School Dist. 228 Director #5
John Perry – Cashmere Council #1
Christopher Carlson – Cashmere Council #2
Virginia (Viky) Quezada – Entiat School Dist. 127 Director #1
Jamie E. Cannon – Entiat School Dist. 127 Director #2
Julie Norton – Wenatchee School Dist. 246 Director #1
Mark Belton – Wenatchee School Dist. 246 Director #4
Caroline Siderius – Wenatchee School Dist. 246 Director #5 At-Large
Larry Dressel – Fire Dist. #1 Commissioner #2
Ray Schmitten – Fire Dist. #6 Commissioner #2
Jessica Kendall – Hospital Dist. #1 Commissioner #1
Cary Ecker – Hospital Dist. #1 Commissioner #2
Jesse Knight – Hospital Dist. #1 Commissioner #4
Shari Day-Campbell – Hospital Dist. #1 Commissioner #5
Douglas County
Megan K. Murphy – Court of Appeals Div. 3 Dist. 3 Position 1
Matthew Schuh – Bridgeport Council Position 1
Charlene Wuolle – Bridgeport Council Position 2
Ettore Castellente – East Wenatchee Council Position 4
Matthew A. Hepner – East Wenatchee Council Position 7
All Waterville City Council races uncontested – incumbents leading.
William B. Gibbs – Fire Dist. #9 Commissioner #2
Casey Cass – Stevens Pass Sewer Dist. Commissioner #1
Daicy Leyva Sanchez – Manson Parks Dist. Commissioner #1
Gary Westmoreland – Manson Parks Dist. Commissioner #3
Robert Campbell – Manson Parks Dist. Commissioner #4
Jay Robinson – Manson Parks Dist. Commissioner #5
Next ballot updates are expected after 5 p.m. Wednesday, with final certification later in November.
Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media
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