Spokane-area races:

-District 3: (Central Spokane) Incumbent Democrats trounced Republican challengers. Sen. Lisa Brown and Reps. Alex Wood and Timm Ormsby coasted to re-election, winning by 67 percent or more.
-District 4 (Spokane Valley area): Incumbents Bob McCaslin and Larry Crouse were well ahead of challengers. In a race for the seat of retiring Rep. Lynn Schindler, Republican attorney Matt Shea was leading Democrat Tim Hattenburg 57 percent to 43 percent. The numbers were nearly identical in the other two races.
-District 6 (western Spokane): A couple of upsets here, it seems. Republican Rep. John Ahern is narrowly losing to Democratic challenger John Driscoll, 49 to 51 percent, although the trend toward Republican late voting could potentially save Ahern. And Democratic Rep. Don Barlow is losing to Republican Kevin Parker by the same 49/51 ratio.
-District 7 (rural NE Washington): After a surprisingly sharp-edged race between two Republicans, longtime political aide Shelly Short is far head of fellow Republican Sue Lani Madsen, 57 percent to 43 percent.
-District 9 (southern Spokane County, the Palouse, south to parts of Franklin County): Incumbents Joe Schmick and Steve Hailey, both Republicans, are far ahead of Democratic challengers.

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