GOP moving ahead in Wash. statehouse contests

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The only Democratic legislator from rural Eastern Washington lost to a Republican challenger Tuesday.

With about 60 percent of the expected vote reported, Republican Terry Nealey defeated freshman Rep. Laura Grant, D-Walla Walla, about 57 percent to 43 percent. Grant was appointed to the seat early this year after the death of her father, Bill Grant, who held the job for more than 20 years.

The contest is for the 16th District, which includes Pasco and Walla Walla.

Two other statehouse contests were on the ballot in Eastern Washington. In the 9th District's all-Republican matchup, Susan Fagan was beating Pat Hailey 55 percent to 45 percent, with about 56 percent of the vote counted.

In the 15th District, freshman Rep. David Taylor, R-Moxee, won his nearly uncontested election.