Aug. 2 primary results posted before counting

MOSES LAKE – A 4th Congressional District candidate is asking for police to look into why some preliminary numbers for the Aug. 2 general election were posted last week to a newspaper website.

Loren Culp, R-Moses Lake, said he couldn't believe it when he saw primary election results posted Sunday night on a Yakima newspaper website.

The July 31 numbers released more than 2 days before ballot counting ranked incumbent Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Sunnyside, as the top vote-getter, followed by Democrat Don White and Republican Jerrod Sessler.

With redistricting, the 4th Congressional District now covers most of Central Washington, including western Adams County. Previously, all of Adams County was in the district.

The other candidates in the race had no numbers in the listing. They include Benancio "Benny" Garcia III, Jacek Kobiesa, Brad Klippert and Corey Gibson. The Top 2 candidates in the Aug 2. primary advance to the Nov. 8 general election.

The election was underway when The Journal went to press; the unofficial preliminary tally was not available at press time.

Screenshot

Culp grabbed a screen of the posting; the newspaper pulled down the numbers by the next morning. Before the newspaper pulled the numbers down, The Center Square verified that the screen grab was genuine

Culp now wants answers as to why "results" were posted in the first place when the election isn't until Tuesday.

It is illegal for election workers to give out early results," he said. "I want to know where those numbers came from because this looks like election tampering.

"I don't know if this was done by mistake or was a deliberate intent to influence voters. What I do know is that someone needs to explain what happened

Culp requested Yakima police investigate the matter.

The Yakima newspaper was unable to be immediately reached for comment. The daily publication is part of the Seattle Times newspaper group.

Culp, a retired Republic police chief, is endorsed by former president Donald Trump. He and others are facing off with the four-term incumbent, Newhouse, who voted to impeach Trump in January 2021.

Because of his support of impeachment, Newhouse has been censured by most Republican committees in the 4th Congressional District.

Trump won Adams County in the 2020 general election with 66.65%. Current President Joe Biden only received 30.95% here.