Election 2026

Lewis leads Kennedy in clerk’s race

David T. Lewis III 70.2%, Brien Kennedy 28.0%

Election 2026 results graphic: clerk

County Clerk David Lewis held a commanding lead over challenger Brien Kennedy, a deputy clerk, after Wednesday’s count in the race for Kitsap County clerk.

Lewis had 58,718 votes, or 70.2%, to Kennedy’s 23,412, or 28.0%, a margin of 35,306 votes, according to unofficial results posted by the Kitsap County Auditor’s Office at 3:34 p.m. Wednesday.

Countywide, 97,481 ballots had been counted, a turnout of 47.7% of Kitsap County’s 204,242 registered voters.

The Kitsap County Auditor’s Office will keep counting ballots in the coming days, including mailed ballots postmarked by Election Day, and results can change. The county is scheduled to certify the election Nov. 24.

The winner will serve a four-year term.

Both candidates list a Democratic Party preference. The clerk keeps Kitsap County Superior Court records, manages juries and court finances, and handles passports.

Lewis has worked in the clerk’s office for more than 40 years. He was appointed clerk in 2021 and elected in 2022, and has cited e-filing and other technology upgrades. He is endorsed by the Kitsap County Democrats.

Kennedy, a deputy clerk in the office, previously held e-commerce and management jobs at Amazon, Microsoft and consumer brands. He has promised public audits of office operations, plain-language guides and monthly office hours.

Lewis drew 58.9% in the Aug. 4 primary to Kennedy’s 33.9%, with the rest written in.

Gift this article