Couture apparent winner; MacEwen falls short

State Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton, will return to Olympia holding his current office, falling short to Democratic challenger State Sen. Emily Randall in the 6th Congressional District race.

Tuesday’s initial count across the entire district showed Randall with 167,826 at 57.3% and MacEwen with 124,717 at 42.58%. In Mason County, MacEwen captured 55.32% of the vote to Randall’s 44.52%.

The 6th District encompasses most of Tacoma and all of the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas from the Mason-Thurston county border north.

“It’s not the result I was looking for,” MacEwen told supporters at a Tuesday night reception at Alderbrook Golf & Yacht Club in Union.

“It’s been a hell of an honor,” MacEwen said, adding that he would “live to fight another day.”

MacEwen’s term in the state senate expires Jan. 11, 2027.

“I ran to fight for all of you. And to those that voted for my opponent in this election: I ran to fight for you, too. I will work every day to deliver for every single one of my neighbors in the 6th Congressional District,” Randall said in a statement.

She also thanked retiring 6th District Rep. Derek Kilmer and his predecessor Norm Dicks.

Republicans have not held the seat since Thor Tollefeson lost reelection in 1964.

While MacEwen’s was disappointed with his result, he was excited about Republican victories throughout the country, he said.

Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, paused while thanking the “unsung heroes” of his campaign, including his wife Julie and Public Information Officer Hanna Scott, while cheers roared after Senate results flashed on Alderbrook T.V. screens.

Couture appears headed for victory according to the early results.

He had 35,745 votes at 57.7% to Democratic challenger James DeHart’s 26,154 votes at 42.22%.

DeHart told the Journal in an email he was “cautiously optimistic” and there were still votes to count.

“I do want to thank everyone who voted and supported this campaign driven by the people and look forward to seeing where the vote goes in the next few days,” he said.

Rep. Dan Griffey, R-Allyn, ran unopposed and will serve another term.

Early results show Griffey with 44,976 and 95.05% with write-ins at 2,340 and 4.95%.

“I know it can be discouraging sometimes,” Griffey said about MacEwen’s loss.

“Never give up. Even if you got shot in the ear. You’ve got to get up and fight, fight, fight,” he said.