Newhouse continues to build lead as more election results released Thursday

Incumbent Republican U.S. Rep.

Dan Newhouse continued to increase his narrow election night lead over challenger and fellow Republican Jerrod Sessler Thursday. More election results were released in Central Washington, including Yakima and Benton counties – the two counties with the most ballots left to count. Newhouse now has 99,147 votes, about 51%, to Sessler's 92,190, or 47.



4%. Voting ended at 8 p.m.

Tuesday, and elections officials will continue to count ballots in the days ahead. Newhouse has gained around 16,000 votes since election night, while Sessler has gained around 13,000. Both campaigns were confident later ballot counts would favor them.

Sessler has lost ground by more than a full percentage point in the last two days. There are around 80,000 ballots left to count, according to county-by-county election results. The Associated Press, which has not called the race, estimates 73% of ballots have been counted.

The district covers Yakima, Benton, Klickitat, Grant, Douglas, Okanogan and parts of Franklin and Adams counties..