Democrat Steve Tharinger was far outdistancing Republican challenger Thomas Greisamer in his bid to win a third term as the Position 2 state representative for the 24th Legislative District as the first general election returns came in Tuesday night.

The district includes Clallam and Jefferson counties and the northern half of Grays Harbor County.

In districtwide voting, Tharinger, 65, of Sequim, was leading Greisamer, 73, a retired Moclips psychiatrist, with 21,502 votes, or 57 percent, to Greisamer’s 16,134 votes, or 43 percent.

In Clallam County, Tharinger was ahead 9,012 votes, or 51 percent, to Greisamer’s 8,525 votes, or 49 percent.

In Jefferson County, Tharinger was ahead with 8,438 votes, or 66.5 percent, to Greisamer’s 4,254 votes, or 33.5 percent.

In Greisamer’s home county of Grays Harbor County, Tharinger was ahead with 4,052 votes, or 55 percent, to Greisamer’s 3,555 votes, or 45 percent.

Tharinger declared victory.

“I’m definitely honored to be re-elected,” he said after reviewing the returns Tuesday night.

Greisamer, who was not ready to concede, was watching nationwide election results Tuesday night and had not reviewed the returns online about 30 minutes after they were posted on the secretary of state’s website.

“I’m watching the rest of the country,” he said.

“I’d just like to wait and see until all the votes are counted.

“Obviously, I’m pretty well behind.”

Tharinger said his totals were similar to the Aug. 5 primary election.

“People kind of know me and think I’m doing pretty good work for the district.

“My opponent was a newcomer.”

The Clallam County Auditor’s Office counted 18,242 ballots Tuesday out of 46,908 issued for a voter turnout of 38.9 percent, Auditor Patty Rosand said.

Rosand received 3,952 ballots in the mail and in drop boxes on Tuesday. Those were not counted, but brought voter turnout to 47.13 percent.

She expects 7,000 more ballots to come in by Wednesday.

The next count of the approximately 11,000 ballots has been scheduled for Friday, Rosand said.

The Jefferson County Auditor’s Office counted 13,402 ballots Tuesday out of 22,207 issued for a voter turnout of 58.64 percent.

Auditor Donna Eldridge expects about 2,000 more ballots to come in later this week.

The next count has been scheduled for about 2 p.m. Thursday unless staff can process all the ballots that come in Wednesday, in which case they will conduct a count that day, Eldridge said.

The position pays $42,106 a year.

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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.