Claim is that over 1,000 votes counted in the race were from voters who did not reside in the district
Bill Bruch
WA State GOP Election Integrity Chairman
The Washington State Republican Party (WAGOP) filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Clark County disputing the current 2024 Legislative District 18 State Senator race. In the race, Republican candidate Brad Benton is down by only 172 votes with 84,123 total votes cast. Benton has 41,881 (49.79%) votes and his Democrat challenger Adrian Cortes has 42,053 (49.99%) votes.
The WAGOP, and attorney Joal Ard, are disputing the results and are asking for a new election. They are saying over 1,000 votes counted in the race were from voters who did not reside in the district.
Apparently over 1,000 registered voters had previously contacted the United States Postal Sevice (USPS) and moved out of LD 18 prior to ballots being mailed out for the November 5, 2024 general election
WAGOP State Chairman Jim Walsh said on Twitter, “what the heck are those people doing voting, and more important, why aren’t election officials in Washington State doing their duty and updating their databases so that people that moved away aren’t voting in their areas?”
Washington’s 18th legislative district is one of 49 districts in Washington state for representation in the state legislature. LD 18 is located within Clark County, bordering the 20th district in the north, the 14th district in the east, and the 49th and 17th districts in the southwest.
LD 18 includes 6 of the 7 incorporated cities in Clark County, including Ridgefield in the west, Battle Ground in the center, Camas and Washougal in the south, Vancouver in the southwest, and La Center and Yacolt in the north. Additionally, the district represents the residents of unincorporated Clark County localities Salmon Creek, Brush Prairie, Felida, and Hazel Dell.
OF NOTE: LD 18 was redistricted in 2022 forcing longtime LD 18 State Senator Ann Rivers out of office. The redistricting did not adversely affect current LD 18 State Representative Stephanie McClintock (position 1) who held onto her seat winning election, but current representative Greg Cheney (position 2), who was trying to be the next LD 18 State Senator was knocked out by Benton in the August primary (both Rivers and Cheney will soon be out of the legislature).
In the 2024 general election, longtime Conservative John Ley won the LD 18 position 2 “open seat” vacated by Cheney, comfortably by over 1,600 votes over his Democrat opponent.
The State Democrats currently control the WA State legislature in the Senate 28 to 21.
Bill Bruch is the WA State GOP Election Integrity Chairman, WSRP Executive Board Member, 4-Term Skagit County GOP Chairman, Citizen Journalist, Blogger, Business Owner, “2021 Citizen Activist of the Year” award by the Olympic Conference, 2020 WA State House Representative Candidate, Former Council Member, and WA State 2016 and 2024 RNC National Convention Delegate.
Also read:
- Leslie Lewallen officially files for re-election to Camas City Council
Leslie Lewallen launches her re-election campaign for Camas City Council, highlighting key accomplishments and a continued focus on community priorities. - Letter: ‘This is a time for bold leadership, clear advocacy, and strong representation’
Justin Forsman of Vancouver announces his candidacy for mayor and outlines a bold new platform focused on rights, infrastructure, and local governance. - WA governor pressed to veto $1.8B piece of Democrats’ tax billGrocers and restaurateurs are urging Gov. Ferguson to veto a surcharge in HB 2081 that they say will raise food prices statewide.
- Letter: ‘It’s said sarcasm is the lowest form of wit’Amboy resident Thomas Schenk criticizes Olympia’s use of “emergency clauses” and other legislative tactics that limit public participation.
- Opinion: What the 2025 legislature tells us about why Washington’s government keeps failingTodd Myers of the Washington Policy Center argues that Washington’s government fails because it resists humility, experimentation, and accountability in its policymaking.
How humorous is this? John Ley ( R Camas) has a two and a half year election fraud trial on this very issue and now the party is up in arms over who votes in the 18th.
Where do they stand on Mr. Ley, who I believe to be the only representative elected to the legislature with an open election fraud case?
I believe his FRAUD CASE GOT DROPPED.. What are you worried about anyways you lost the PRIMARY.
The 2024 fraud case was dropped by Clark County Auditor Greg Kemsey stating a lack of evidence. But, the 2022 case is ongoing. Interestingly, the 2022 case was filed on behalf a Republican, Carin Crane, with her contesting that Ley lived in Camas and not Vancouver.
John Ley was recently elected (R-18th), which no longer includes Camas. For many years, Camas was in the 18th district. Although Battleground City Councilor Shane Bowman and Carolyn Crain did challenge the voter registration of John Ley in July, 2024, the voter registration challenge form was not factual. Thus that challenge was dimissed on August 15, 2024.
Another voter registration challenge was attemped by Democrat activist Geoffrey Munson, and a hearing was held in October just prior to ballots being mailed to voters. However, the Auditor found the claims lacked credible evidence, and that challenge was also dismissed. see article below Clark County auditor dismisses voter registration challenge against John Ley
Bill Bruch, the WA State “GOP Election Integrity Chairman”, an oxymoron if ever there was one.
Anyone know how it is that Washington State Republicans or anyone for that matter could know who notified the USPS that they moved? Is that public information? Does WA SOS get a copy of that information from USPS so they can update voter rolls?
To cancel one’s registration to vote in Washington a voter needs to mail in a Voter Cancel Registration Form.
Washington State Secretary Of State Residency Requirements
I am super curious how they know who moved, received a ballot, and voted?
Is it possible these 1,000 voters moved out of Washington and moved back? I know quite a few people who have done that over the years.
Were their Washington driver licenses still valid? Does DOL get contacted when by USPS or other states’ DMV when someone moves?
As someone who believes strongly in protecting our civil liberties above all else, I know there are U.S. Constitutional considerations with government departments sharing information except under very specific circumstances.
Why didn’t Washington State Republicans file a Washington State Voter Challenge Form before the election for everyone on the voter roll that moved?
So many questions.
Seems like the elections department should do a better job of updating the voter data when notified that a resident has moved.