OLYMPIA — The Evergreen State is getting a new governor for the first time since Jay Inslee took office in 2013. The Democrat had announced that he wouldn’t run for another term earlier this year and the primary left Attorney General Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, facing Republican Dave Reichert, a former sheriff and state legislator.  

As of the polls closing at 8 p.m., the apparent winner appears to be Ferguson, though that may change as the results are canvased and confirmed after County Canvassing Boards certify and transmit the results to the Secretary of State’s Office on Nov. 26 and the Secretary of State certifies the election Dec. 5.  

Initial Grant County results indicate Reichert earned the local vote by 70.77% with Reichert receiving 11,770 votes to Ferguson’s 29.05%, or 4,831 so far.  

For Adams County, initial results show Reichert receiving 2,158 votes, while Ferguson came in with 674 votes.  

Statewide, Ferguson received about 62.87% of the vote to Reichert’s initial 48.2%.  

Mail-in ballots will continue to trickle in over the next few days, but with the strong initial showing and the strong lead Ferguson has, it is unlikely to change the initial projected winner of the race.