County Commissioner, district 1

Election Results

Last updated: Nov. 15, 10:05 a.m.

Candidate	Votes	Pct
Josh Kerns (R)	107,859	53.95%
Candace Mumm (D)	92,058	46.05%

* Race percentages are calculated with data from the Secretary of State's Office, which omits write-in votes from its calculations when there are too few to affect the outcome. The Spokane County Auditor's Office may have slightly different percentages than are reflected here because its figures include any write-in votes.

About the Race

The three-member Spokane County Commission wields both legislative and executive power over the county’s 490,000 residents. Position 1, which represents roughly the northern third of the county, is currently held by Republican Nancy McLaughlin, but a surprising August primary left her no chance of retaining the seat. All voters countywide will vote in the race.

McLaughlin was beat by her GOP rival, Josh Kerns, a legislative aide backed by state Rep. Matt Shea and other lawmakers. The other challenger, Spokane City Councilwoman Candace Mumm, won the highest percentage of the primary vote, but she faces a challenge running as a Democrat in a county that leans Republican.

Mumm has touted her business acumen and experience on the city of Spokane’s Plan Commission. Kerns said he would use his relationships in Olympia to loosen restrictions on county government.

In recent debates, the candidates have sparred over taxes, spending, development and regulation. Kerns has attacked Mumm for approving a City Council measure that requires businesses to pay employees up to five sick days a year. Mumm has questioned Kerns’ political ties to Shea, who recently stirred controversy by suggesting a Spokane County sheriff’s deputy was complicit in a triple homicide.

The Candidates

Josh Kerns

Party:: Republican
Age:: 39
City:: Mead, Washington

Education: Graduated from Mount Spokane High School in 2003. Earned associate degree from Spokane Community College in 2004 and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Whitworth University in 2006 and 2008.

Political experience: Elected Spokane County commissioner in 2016. Served six years as a legislative aide for state Rep. Jeff Holy and former state Rep. John Ahern. Previously served as a delegate to precinct caucuses and county and state Republican conventions. Has worked on Republican campaigns since 2008.

Work experience: Owns a small marketing company, River Marketing, with his wife. Previously worked as a server at Red Robin and a banker for U.S. Bank.

Family: Married to Nichole Kerns. Has two children.

Campaign finance: Has raised nearly $41,000 as of Sept. 9, 2022. Notable donors include Avista, numerous builders and political action groups that represent developers, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ congressional campaign fund, Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell, Spokane Valley City Council members Rod Higgins and Arne Woodard, the Washington Association of Realtors, 4th Legislative District Sen. Mike Padden, 4th Legislative District representatives Rob Chase and Bob McCaslin and Spokane County Republican Party Chairman Brian Steele.

Candace Mumm

Party:: Democratic
Age:: 63
City:: Spokane, WA
Occupation:: Incumbent city council member, business owner

Her words: "I have always been involved in standing up for neighborhoods. I have been very involved in some of the northside neighborhood improvements … I really enjoy working with neighborhoods, and working at that level."

Her pitch: Mumm says the city council has built momentum on improving roads and sidewalks during her first four-year term, and hopes to continue that momentum for another four years. She points to work on improving the transit options near Spokane Falls Community College, working with the West Hills neighborhood, and securing a commitment from the Washington Legislature to add back a supervision system for property crime offenders in Spokane County, as evidence of her work to address the major issues facing voters in northwest Spokane. In a second term, her priorities would be finding a way to fund additional needed police officers, continuing contract negotiations with the Spokane Police Guild and revitalizing the business center located near Shadle Park High School.

Work experience: Incumbent city councilmember and executive of Smartland, a real estate investment company. Previously worked as a crime reporter and managing editor for KXLY, and as a financial adviser for American Express.

Education: Graduated from Shadle Park High School in 1978. Bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism from Pacific Lutheran University in 1982. Earned a master’s degree in business administration from Gonzaga University.

Political experience: Elected to the Spokane City Council in 2013. Previously served on the city’s Plan Commission, the county’s Stormwater Task Force, the state Department of Commerce’s Community Economic Revitalization Board and the Mead School District’s Capital Facilities Bond Task Force. Former vice chair of the Five Mile neighborhood council.

Work experience: Currently the CEO of Smartland, a real estate investment company. Previously worked as a crime reporter and managing editor for KXLY, and as a financial adviser for American Express.

Family: Married.

Neighborhood: Five Mile

Complete Coverage

County officials balance budget with property taxes former commissioner says should be devoted to roads

December 5, 2016 9:31 p.m.

For the third year in a row, Spokane County officials are balancing the budget by diverting money that a former commissioner says should be spent on road improvements.

Josh Kerns sworn in as Spokane County commissioner, replacing Nancy McLaughlin

November 29, 2016 6:13 p.m.

Josh Kerns was sworn in as Spokane County commissioner Tuesday evening, replacing Nancy McLaughlin to represent the county’s northern district.

Kerns, Fennessy still leading in close races

November 9, 2016 5:53 p.m.

All four candidates involved in close races in Spokane County picked up more votes in Wednesday’s second count of ballots, but no one was able to make enough of a gain to change the outcome.

Shelly O’Quinn wins re-election on Spokane County Commission; Josh Kerns leads

November 8, 2016 8:31 p.m.

A Democrat on the Spokane County Commission? Probably not. Incumbent Republican Shelly O’Quinn easily won re-election Tuesday and Republican Josh Kerns had a strong lead for the other open seat.

Ad watch: Josh Kerns makes dubious claims about Candace Mumm

October 28, 2016 3:46 p.m.

For the second time in his run for Spokane County commissioner, Josh Kerns’ campaign has distributed a mailer containing some dubious claims about an opponent.

Voters get distinct choice in race for open county seat

October 14, 2016 6:01 p.m.

Either way voters choose, the candidate who replaces Spokane County Commissioner Nancy McLaughlin will bring a markedly different political ideology.

Mumm, Kerns face off in debate for McLaughlin’s Spokane County Commission seat

September 29, 2016 6:29 p.m.

The two candidates vying to replace Spokane County Commissioner Nancy McLaughlin squared off in a debate Thursday afternoon at the Spokane Club.

City Council OKs deal with GSI to continue business development, federal lobbying

August 8, 2016 8:38 p.m.

The Spokane City Council signed a short-term deal Monday with Greater Spokane Inc. for business development services, following a monthlong delay on a contract extension. The contract requires GSI to solicit input from area companies about Spokane’s business climate and seeks to end conflicts of interest in joint federal lobbying efforts.

Spokane County Commissioner McLaughlin, who lost primary, won’t endorse Mumm or Kerns

August 4, 2016 2:53 p.m.

Republican Nancy McLaughlin, who is now a lame duck on the Spokane County Commission, said Thursday she has “no respect” for the campaign tactics of her GOP rival, Josh Kerns, who beat her by three percentage points in this week’s primary.

Mumm to advance in commission race; McLaughlin trailing Kerns

August 2, 2016 8:30 p.m.

Republican incumbent Nancy McLaughlin is trailing opponent Josh Kerns in her bid to retain her seat on the Spokane County Commission. Democratic City Councilwoman Candace Mumm will advance to the general election for that seat.

Nancy McLaughlin takes issue with claims made in challenger Josh Kerns’ mailer

July 22, 2016 6:14 p.m.

Spokane County Commissioner Nancy McLaughlin took issue this week with a mailer sent by challenger Josh Kerns.

Three vie for seat on Spokane County Commission

July 13, 2016 4:26 p.m.

Two challengers are vying for a chance to unseat Commissioner Nancy McLaughlin in the August primary elections.

Editorial: McLaughlin and Mumm for County Commission

July 7, 2016

Mumm and McLaughlin are more experienced and pragmatic than Kerns. We would like to see them advance to the general election.

Council aide Rush fired following complaints

May 9, 2016 2:15 p.m.

Richard Rush, a former Spokane City Council member, was fired from his position as aide to Councilwoman Candace Mumm after two women complained that he made them feel uncomfortable.

Spokane City Council maintains ability to ask voters for transit sales tax

April 25, 2016 9:06 p.m.

For the third time in six months, Spokane Mayor David Condon vetoed an ordinance passed by a wide margin on the City Council, only to see it overridden by similar vote totals. The latest veto override dealt with an ordinance that allowed the city to use tax dollars to fund public transportation, circumnavigating the Spokane Transit Authority in case its board decided against putting a transit measure on an upcoming ballot.

Gender could be more important majority in city, county government

March 29, 2016 2:33 p.m.

For the first time since the territorial government was led by Glovers and Cannons and Comstocks, a majority of women hold seats on the Spokane City Council. Also for the first time, two women occupy the majority of the three county commission seats. It’s a 6-4 local government majority.

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