PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — There will be a new sheriff in town, but current results show the race is too close to call just yet.
Current results show a tight competition between Keith Swank and challenger Patti Jackson to be Pierce County's next sheriff, replacing current Sheriff Ed Troyer.
Here's a look at where the race between Swank and Jackson stands as of Thursday night's third results drop.
Ballot returns will update daily until all the votes are counted and results are certified later in November, meaning Swank's lead could shrink or widen.
Swank served over 30 years with the Seattle Police Department in various roles, including working as a captain who oversaw units like the SWAT team. Swank said his priorities are addressing the morale of the agency, dealing with violent juvenile crime, and addressing quality of life issues like graffiti and drug use.
“I’m feeling like this race is awfully close and we have many more ballots to be counted, so we will see in the next few days how it turns out,” said Keith Swank, after the first round of election results were posted.
Jackson has been with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department for 35 years, working primarily in corrections and has been the chief of patrol since January. Jackson previously told KING 5 that her top three priorities are rebuilding public trust, being tough on crime, and bringing the right people into the department.
“Votes are still coming in. I am honored and humbled to be here, you can feel the energy in the room, we have a lot of community support, and I am feeling that and that is pushing me forward,” said Patti Jackson, after the first election results were posted on Tuesday night.
Troyer is not seeking reelection. He has been with the department since 1985 and was first elected as sheriff in 2020. He was challenged by candidate Cyndie Fajardo, who lost in the 2020 general election to Troyer and lost in the primary election this year to Swank and Jackson.
Swank said if he were elected by voters to become sheriff, he would have Fajardo serve as his undersheriff.
If elected, Jackson would be the first female sheriff in Pierce County.