Marshall makes another surprise showing, has lead over Snaza in District 2 House race
Candidate Matt Marshall has done it again.
Marshall won the August primary over former Thurston County Sheriff John Snaza and he is again leading his opponent in the District 2 House race, despite being outspent by a 5-1 margin, after early results in Tuesday’s general election.
District 2 encompasses much of southeast Pierce County and a sliver of east Thurston County.
Marshall, 40, was leading with 55% of the vote to Snaza’s 40.8%, the results show. Both are running as Republicans. Marshall works as an orthopedic surgery physician assistant in the Olympia area.
“I’m not complaining, but I’m also not celebrating,” said Marshall Tuesday night, adding that more votes are still to be counted.
Marshall said he was surprised by the gap in the results because he expected it to be much closer. Still, he feels he resonated with voters and made a point to share his cell phone number widely.
During the campaign, he said he heard from a couple of dozen people who called him. Some wanted to vote for him and some did not, but he thinks voters appreciated that he took the time to talk to them.
In the process, he may have converted some voters to support him, he said.
“I plan to talk to everybody and be present,” said Marshall, if elected.
Snaza, 59, seemed stunned by the Tuesday results.
“I don’t know what to think,” he said, adding that the early gap will be hard to make up. “It is what it is. No matter what, the district will be well-served.”
The winner will replace former longtime incumbent JT Wilcox, who is retiring.
During the campaign, Snaza spent roughly $152,000 to Marshall’s $30,000.
Elsewhere in the region, incumbent Republicans made a good showing.
State Senate District 2 race
Incumbent Republican Jim McCune was leading Democrat Erasmo Ruiz Gonzalez with 64% of the vote to 35.9%.
State Senate District 19 race
Incumbent Republican Jeff Wilson was ahead of Democrat Andi Day with nearly 61% of the vote to her 38.9%.
State House District 19 Position 1 race
Incumbent Republican Jim Walsh was leading Democrat Mike Coverdale with 59.8% of the vote to Coverdale’s 40.1%.
State House District 19 Position 2 race
Incumbent Republican Joel McEntire was ahead of Democrat Terry Carlson with 61.8% of the vote to Carlson’s 38%.
State House District 20 Position 1
Incumbent Republican Peter Abbarno had a huge lead over Culture Republican Party member Melvin Kaleolani Apana. Abbarno had captured nearly 90% of the vote, early results showed.
This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 9:30 PM.
