Thursday, October 1, 2026
Incumbent Emily Clouse remained more than 500 votes behind challenger Nicolas Martinez-Dunning in the Thurston County Commissioner District No. 5 race in the Aug. 4 Primary Election, updated unofficial results showed.
The vote total for Martinez-Dunning, a Lacey City Councilman, was 5,561 or 38.48 percent, according to results released by the Thurston County Auditor’s Office Elections Division on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 12.
Clouse’s vote count was 5,005 or 34.63 percent. She has trailed Martinez-Dunning by a similar margin over the past few vote total updates.
South Sound YMCA Senior Director of Branch Operations Michelle Gipson’s vote total was 3,637 or 25.16 percent. The top two candidates move on to the Nov. 3 General Election.
Other contested races
In the race for the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office top slot, incumbent Derek Sanders received 57,915 votes or 70.77 percent, as of Wednesday afternoon. Challenger Kevin Burton-Crow picked up 23,672 votes or 28.92 percent.
In the race for the Thurston County Assessor's role, JJ Olson received 39,822 votes or 55.30 percent, and Lynda Nashed Zeman pulled in 30,165 votes or 41.8 percent.
In the race for the Thurston County Clerk's seat, Nicole Miller received 39,909 votes or 50.64 percent, while Garrett Cady checked in with 38,465 votes or 48.81 percent.
The candidates in the sheriff’s office, assessor and clerk races all move on to the Nov. 3 General Election.
Voter turnout stood at 39.25 percent, as of Wednesday afternoon with 84,543 ballots cast. The Aug. 4 Primary Election results are scheduled to be certified on Tuesday, Aug. 18, at the Ballot Processing Center in Tumwater.
For complete unofficial Aug. 4 Primary Election results in Thurston County, click here.
6 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Acadian04
Do these updates matter any more? The general election ballot has been determined.
Thursday, August 13 Report this
2theroots
I agree with the person below. What is the point. We already know Emily Clouse, even has second has made it into the general election
Thursday, August 13 Report this
JW
Here's to hoping she holds her second place position in November
Friday, August 14 Report this
Chris_R
Stay tuned, the final results will be posted in 2030.
Friday, August 14 Report this
TheVirtualOne
Voters need to insure that the November election mirrors the primary by holding Clouse accountable for her conduct and insure she is permanently voted out of office. She has absolutely no place representing the citizens of Thurston county. after wasting taxpayers money paying for her sexual partners lawsuit and the thousands spent on investigations and legal costs. Toss her out.
Monday, August 17 Report this
ViaLocal
Virtualone -- Clouse over Trump ANY day
Monday, August 17 Report this