Day 5 Update: Van Takes Lead in School Board Race

King County released another ballot update on Day 5, and nearly every race across Burien, SeaTac, Des Moines, Normandy Park, and Highline School District continues to show stable results. Most candidates are widening their margins, and several are now effectively settled — except one.

In Highline School District Position 3, Joe Van, current board president, now leads with 50.47% to Katie Kresly’s 49.06%, a margin that bumps the race out of the 1% automatic recount range. Vote numbers continue to climb as late-arriving ballots are processed.

King County Elections plans to certify all county elections on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.

Highline School Board

• District 2: Angelica Alvarez – 53.12% vs. Sue-Ann Hohimer – 46.29%
• District 3: Joe Van – 50.47% vs. Katie Kresly – 49.06% (tightest local race)
• District 4: Damarys Espinoza – 60.08% vs. Ken Kemp – 39.43%
• District 5: Blaine Holien – 97.83% (unopposed)
• Levy Proposition 1: Yes 63.24% | No 36.76% (strong pass margin)

Burien

All council races continue to show comfortable leads for the progressive candidates:

• Pos. 1: Hugo Garcia – 58.14% vs. Jessica Ivey – 40.95%
• Pos. 3: Sam Méndez – 60.81% vs. Marie Barbon – 38.68%
• Pos. 5: Sarah Moore – 64.98% vs. Gabriel Fernandez – 34.53%
• Pos. 7: Rocco DeVito – 55.94% vs. Stephanie Mora – 43.59%
• Prop. 1 Public Safety Levy: No 52.73% | Yes 47.27%

Des Moines

• Pos. 1: Harry Steinmetz – 53.56% vs. David Denino – 45.78%
• Pos. 3: Gene Achziger – 96.95% (unopposed)
• Pos. 5: Pierre Blosse – 54.28% vs. Lloyd Elliott Lytle – 44.92%
• Pos. 7: Robyn Desimone – 96.80% (unopposed)

Normandy Park

All running candidates hold near-unanimous support:

• Pos. 2: Susan Jeanne West – 98.47%
• Pos. 4: Mike Bishoff – 96.60%
• Pos. 6: Eric Zimmerman – 98.38%

SeaTac

• Pos. 2: Caitlin Konya – 60.14% vs. Takele Gobena – 38.54%
• Pos. 4: Mohamed Egal – 57.87% vs. Isabelle Kerner – 41.25%
• Pos. 6: Bedria Abdullahi – 55.53% vs. Michael Sanford – 43.94%

33rd Legislative District

• State House Pos. 1: Edwin Obras – 51.83% vs. Kevin Schilling – 46.37%
• State Senate: Tina Orwall – 96.23% (unopposed)

King County Council – District 5

Steffanie Fain – 54.85% vs. Peter Kwon – 44.52%