Republican state Rep. Taylor leads 15th District race

OLYMPIA — Appointed state Rep. Laura Grant will get a chance to carry on her late father's status as the only Democrat in the Legislature from rural Eastern Washington.

Grant, who was appointed earlier this year after the death of her father, Bill Grant, easily advanced to the November ballot on Tuesday in the race for the 16th District, which includes Pasco and Walla Walla, getting 46 percent of the vote in early returns.

Also advancing to the Nov. 3 election was Republican Terry Nealey with 38 percent.

The race was one of three open seats for the Legislature on Tuesday's ballot.

In the 15th District, which includes Sunnyside and Goldendale, voters advanced Republican Rep. David Taylor of Moxee after early returns show him winning the primary election in that race with more than 65 percent of the vote in early returns.

Democrat John Gotts had nearly 19 percent of the vote and Democrat Donicio Marichalar had more than 16 percent in early returns.

Also undecided Tuesday night was the race in the 9th District, which includes Pullman and Cheney, to fill the unexpired term of the late Rep. Steve Hailey, R-Mesa, who died in December of colon cancer.

Early returns showed Republican Susan Fagan winning with nearly 29 percent of the vote, followed closely by Steve Hailey's widow Pat Hailey, also a Republican, with 25.6 percent. Democrat Glen Stockwell had 25.2 percent.