Orcutt Leads Jones in Washington District 20 Race
Longtime Republican Ed Orcutt holds a wide early lead over Democrat Evan Jones in the District 20, Position 2 state legislative contest.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Republican state Rep. Ed Orcutt of Kalama leads Democrat Evan Jones of Kelso by 22.81 points in the District 20, Position 2 race, with 61.3% of 60,034 districtwide votes counted as of 8 p.m. Tuesday. The results are preliminary, and Orcutt is on track to win his 13th term.
Why it matters
The early returns suggest continuity in a legislative seat that spans Cowlitz, Clark, Lewis and Thurston counties. Late-arriving valid postmarked ballots could still shift the margin before results are finalized.
Orcutt led with 63.16% of 12,569 votes cast in Cowlitz County, where Jones received 4,613 votes. Final figures depend on ballots still expected over the next several days and on certification by Nov. 24 at the county level.
The players
Ed Orcutt
A longtime Republican state legislator from Kalama who is seeking his 13th term in the Washington Legislature.
Evan Jones
A 43-year-old Democrat from Kelso and member of IBEW Local 48 in Portland who is challenging Orcutt in the District 20 race.
The details
Preliminary results were released after polls closed by the Elections Office and the Washington Secretary of State's Office. Jones, a 43-year-old Democrat and IBEW Local 48 member based in Portland, trails the 64-year-old incumbent Republican across the four-county district.
Timeline
Aug. 4: Top-two primary in which Orcutt and Jones advanced.
Tuesday, 8 p.m.: Preliminary vote counts reported.
Nov. 24: County canvassing boards must certify results.
Dec. 3: Secretary of State must certify the election.
Season Trajectory
Orcutt's sustained margin, nearly matching his 62.86% primary share, suggests the district's partisan lean has held steady across two elections. Final certification under Washington's canvass schedule will confirm whether late ballots alter that pattern.
The outcome determines who represents residents of parts of Cowlitz, Clark, Lewis and Thurston counties in the Legislature for the next term. Voters should expect the final count to be confirmed only after late ballots are tallied and certified.
The takeaway
Early leads in Washington races can narrow as late postmarked ballots are counted, so the certified result is the figure that matters. Checking official county and state certification notices gives the most reliable final tally.
What happens next
County canvassing boards must certify the results by Nov. 24, and the Secretary of State must certify the election by Dec. 3.
Further reading
Explore more Washington Elections coverage for context on how the state counts and certifies its races.
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