Upthegrove led in early results with about 53% of the vote. Jaime Herrera Beutler had about 47%, after Tuesday’s first vote counts.
The elected leader of the Department of Natural Resources oversees nearly six million acres of state-owned public lands and the state firefighting force. Current Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz opted to run for the open 6th Congressional District seat. She placed third in the August primary.
Herrera Beutler and Upthegrove emerged from a crowded primary field that attracted five Democratic candidates and two Republicans.
Herrera Beutler won the primary with 22% of the vote.
With votes spilt between several Democratic candidates, Upthegrove squeaked past Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson by just
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