State Rep. Mark Hargrove, R-Covington, had his lead drop again Monday in a tightly contested race against Kent Democratic challenger Bud Sizemore for the State House District 47 Position 1 seat.

Hargrove's lead dropped to 134 votes through Monday's tally by King County Elections. His lead had been more than 300 votes until dropping to 284 votes on Nov. 19 and to 241 on Nov. 20. The count will be updated again on Tuesday.

Hargrove has 50.06 percent (27,034 votes) while Sizemore has 49.81 percent (26,900) votes. There were 69 write-in votes for 0.13 percent.

Any office must be recounted by machine when the difference between two candidates is fewer than 2,000 votes and less than .50 percent, according to the King County Elections website at www.kingcounty.gov/elections.

Offices must be recounted by hand if the difference between two candidates is fewer than 1,000 votes and less than .25 percent.

King County Elections will update results each weekday afternoon until the election is certified Tuesday, Nov. 27.

Sizemore, a Kent firefighter and former Covington City Councilman, is making his first run for a state office. Hargrove, a Boeing instructor pilot and Air Force veteran, led by just 91 votes over Sizemore when the first results were released on election night Nov. 6 before increasing his lead over the next 10 days. Hargrove is seeking a second, two-year term.

Contact Kent Reporter Courts, government reporter Steve Hunter at shunter@kentreporter.com or 253-872-6600, ext. 5052.

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