OLYMPIA, Wash. — In Washington’s closest statewide race of the 2024 primary election season, Democrat Dave Upthegrove eked his way into the general election for Commissioner of Public Lands, ensuring his party isn’t shut out.
Upthegrove led Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson for second place by 51 votes before the recount, and that lead narrowed to 49 after both picked up additional votes.
Republican , who made national headlines when she was one of only a handful of Republicans to vote to impeach President Donald Trump in January of 2021, secured her spot in the general before the recount, garnering about 22% of all votes.
Democrats stood a real chance of being shut out of the general election for public lands commissioner up until the recount was completed, despite Democratics bringing in more than 57% of the vote in the August primary collectively.
That discrepancy is possible thanks to Washington’s top two primary system, which doesn’t include a ranked choice component that theoretically could prevent it. In 2024, five Democrats brought in more than 4% of votes each, while only two Republicans received votes.
Upthegrove and Herrera Beutler will now vie to replace Commissioner Hillary Franz, who mounted an unsuccessful bid for Congress in western Washington after a short-lived campaign for governor of Washington.
Both candidates have emphasized the need for improved wildfire prevention measures, a key responsibility of the Department of Natural Resources — the state agency led by the public lands commissioner.
But Upthegrove also centered his campaign on what he calls “environmental justice” and progressive approaches to tackling climate change. Herrera Beutler, meanwhile, agrees that reducing carbon emissions is a worthy goal but believes improved technology is a more effective tool to achieve it rather than the regulatory strategies promoted by Washington Democrats in recent years.
Upthegrove secured endorsements from the Washington Conservation Action and the Sierra Club, which likely helped him get the most support among Democratic candidates vying for the position in the August primary.
Herrera Beutler is endorsed by conservative and moderate Republican groups and elected officials from across the state including U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers and U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse.
Ballots for the general election will be mailed to voters by Oct. 18 and are due by Nov. 5.
