Washington County Democrats celebrate historic gains, call for District 13 runoff after unprecedented 507–507 tie
Washington County voters sent a clear message Thursday: Change is coming. Democrats flipped three seats on the Washington County Commission, with Sarah Laposky winning District 9, Lori Sukel winning District 10, and Daniel Cutshall winning District 12. Mary Grace Wooten won her race for Washington County Board of Education, while Jodi Jones secured reelection to the County Commission in District 11.
These victories mark a major shift in Washington County politics. Several Democratic candidates captured more than one-third of the vote in their districts. The Washington County Democratic Party (WCDP) thanks every voter who showed up, every volunteer who knocked doors, made calls, sent texts, wrote postcards, donated, and talked to neighbors, and every candidate who stepped forward to give voters a choice.
One race remains unfinished. In County Commission District 13, Democrat Cindy Humphrey and Republican incumbent Kenny Huffine are tied at exactly 507 votes each. On Friday, the WCDP Executive Committee unanimously approved a resolution calling for a runoff election. Under T.C.A. § 2-8-111, the County Commission may either cast the deciding vote itself or call a runoff between the tied candidates.
“When 1,014 voters divide themselves exactly evenly between two candidates, politicians should not decide the election for them,” said WCDP Chair Sylvain Bruni. “The people of District 13 showed up. They voted. Their voices matter, and we owe it to them to respect those voices. Let them vote again and decide who represents their community.”
The WCDP also rejects the argument that a runoff should be dismissed because of its potential cost. Washington County voters are already scheduled to return to the polls on November 3 for municipal elections. County and election officials should explore every lawful option to conduct the runoff alongside that election and minimize additional expense. A runoff would also build on the tremendous civic energy of this election by giving more residents another reason to participate in choosing their local leaders.
The Washington County Democratic Party calls on residents across the county to contact their County Commissioners and ask them to support a runoff election in District 13. We owe it to the people to respect their voices. Ask the County Commission to call a runoff and give District 13 voters the final say.
