Merrill Leads Lewis County Auditor Race
Mitchell Merrill holds a wide early lead over Mitch Townsend in the Lewis County auditor contest after the first preliminary count.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Republican Mitchell Merrill received 58.58% of preliminary votes, or 16,259, in the first batch of results for the Lewis County auditor race posted by the county auditor's office. Republican Mitch Townsend received 38.91%, or 10,799 votes.
Why it matters
The race will decide who succeeds Lewis County Auditor Larry Grove, who is retiring at the end of his term. Washington's secretary of state must certify final results by Dec. 3.
The first batch gives Merrill a lead of roughly 5,460 votes over Townsend. Updated counts will be released in the days ahead, and the outcome is not final until certified.
The players
Mitchell Merrill
A Republican certified public accountant running for Lewis County auditor, endorsed by the outgoing auditor and his predecessor.
Mitch Townsend
A Republican and Mossyrock School Board chair who has served in the U.S. armed services and is running for Lewis County auditor.
Larry Grove
The current Lewis County auditor first elected in 2014, who first worked for the county in 1989 and is retiring at the end of his term.
The details
Merrill is a certified public accountant endorsed by Grove and former Auditor Gary Zandell. Townsend, chair of the Mossyrock School Board, has served in the U.S. armed services.
Timeline
Nov. 3, 2026: General election held and first preliminary ballots tallied.
Dec. 3, 2026: Washington secretary of state certifies the election results.
Season Trajectory
The contest follows Washington's standard county election calendar, in which preliminary counts are updated before the secretary of state certifies results by Dec. 3. The outcome will determine who takes over the county auditor's office from the retiring Grove.
Lewis County voters will have a new county auditor, who oversees elections, recording, and licensing, starting when Grove's term ends. Residents can follow updated counts on the county auditor's website as they are posted.
The takeaway
Preliminary leads can shift as additional ballots are counted, so final results should be checked after state certification. Voters who want to understand local offices can review candidate backgrounds before the next election.
What happens next
The Lewis County Auditor's Office will release updated ballot counts in the days ahead, and the Washington secretary of state will certify final results by Dec. 3.
Further reading
Track more results in Washington Elections coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Chronicle.
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