Willoughby Retakes Lead in District 12 Race
Democrat Stacy Willoughby now leads Republican incumbent Brian Burnett by 624 votes, a margin of less than 1%.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Elections
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Democrat Stacy Willoughby has retaken the lead over Republican incumbent Brian Burnett in the District 12 Representative 1 race. As of Monday afternoon, Willoughby leads by 624 votes, after Burnett had pulled ahead on Friday.
Why it matters
The lead has shifted as results were tallied and released in batches, and the margin is narrow enough that recount rules are relevant. Under state thresholds, Willoughby's lead is not small enough to trigger a mandatory recount.
Willoughby's 624-vote lead is below the mandatory machine recount threshold of 2,000 votes and 0.5%, and above the hand recount threshold of 150 votes and 0.25%. Whether a candidate requests a post-certification recount, which carries a fee, has not been addressed.
The players
Stacy Willoughby
Democratic candidate in the District 12 Representative 1 race, currently holding the lead.
Brian Burnett
Republican incumbent in the District 12 Representative 1 race, who had pulled ahead before Willoughby retook the lead.
Brandt Cappell
Chelan County Auditor overseeing the election and stating the recount thresholds.
The details
Willoughby was ahead when the first batch of results was released on November 2, and Burnett pulled ahead by Friday. Chelan County Auditor Brandt Cappell stated the recount thresholds, noting that candidates can request a recount after state certification but must pay a fee.
Timeline
November 2: First batch of election results released, with Willoughby ahead.
November 6: Burnett pulled ahead of Willoughby.
November 9: Willoughby leads by 624 votes as of Monday afternoon.
Political Context
Washington's mandatory recount rules are triggered by margins below both a vote count and a percentage of votes cast, which is why a lead of 624 votes at under 1% sits above the hand recount trigger but below the machine recount trigger. Any further change would depend on the certified count and whether a candidate pays for a recount request.
Voters in District 12 will not know the final winner until the race is certified, since the current lead can still change as remaining results are counted. Candidates who want a recount after certification must pay a fee, which adds a financial consideration to any contest.
The takeaway
Close margins can reverse within days as batches of results come in, so the leader on a given day is not necessarily the final winner. Watching for official certification is the reliable way to know the outcome.
Further reading
For more on how races like this are decided, see Elections coverage in Washington.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Wenatchee World.
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