French, GOP have big night

Spokane County Commissioner Al French took a comfortable lead over Democratic challenger Mary Lou Johnson tonight as voters across Eastern Washington appeared to again be giving Republicans the edge. Republican U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers was coasting to a sixth term in the 5th congressional district with a big win over Democrat Joe Pakootas, State Sen. Michael Baumgartner beat Democrat Rich Cowan for a second term Spokane’s 6th Legislative District, and voters are giving Deputy Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell a promotion to his boss Steve Tucker’s old job with a big win over Democrat Breean Beggs. County Auditor Vicki Dalton remains the only Democrat holding countywide office in Spokane with a win over Republican challenger Alene Lindstrand. Meanwhile, voters statewide and in Spokane County approved a ballot measure calling for universal background checks, I-594. The competing measure, I-591, was losing statewide.