JJ Olson has extended his lead to nearly 11,000 votes over Lynda Nashed Zeman in the race for Thurston County Assessor, according to updated unofficial results.

Olson received 39,307 votes, or 56.90%, compared with 28,343 votes, or 41.03%, for Zeman, according to The JOLT News Organization, citing the Thurston County Auditor's Office. Both candidates ran as Democrats.

The county clerk race remains tighter. Nicole Miller, a Democrat, received 38,613 votes, or 52.37%. Garrett Cady, an independent, received 34,774 votes, or 47.16%. As we reported Nov. 4, Miller held an early lead on election night.

All results are unofficial and will be updated before the election is certified.

What the positions pay

Both the assessor and clerk positions carry an annual salary of $147,936, according to 2026 Thurston County salary data. Winners of partisan races will be sworn into office in December and seated in January.

The assessor race

Olson told the Nisqually Valley News on election night that the experience felt like finishing a marathon after a year of campaigning. He said he believes support from staff inside the assessor's office and their union helped set his campaign apart.

Zeman told the Nisqually Valley News she was grateful for her campaign team and said her campaign was still watching the results closely, noting there were "still plenty of votes to be counted."

The clerk race

Current Thurston County Clerk Linda Enlow is set to retire at the end of 2026, according to the Nisqually Valley News.

Miller campaigned on reopening in-person services at the clerk's office. In-person services had closed on Jan. 21 and reopened part-time on Sept. 21, the Nisqually Valley News reported. Miller said keeping the office open to the public would not be negotiable.

She told the Nisqually Valley News on election night that she believes voters are sending a message that they want change in the clerk's office.

Turnout

A total of 78,902 ballots were cast in the Nov. 3 general election in Thurston County. Voter turnout was 36.71%, with 214,940 voters on the rolls at the time of the election, according to The JOLT.

Thurston County Auditor Mary Hall said she was pleased with how the election process went. Hall highlighted ballot drop box usage, saying it rose from 70% in 2022 to over 80% this year, The JOLT reported.

Results will continue to be updated in the coming days and weeks before certification.