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The1996 Pierce County Executive election took place on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Republican County ExecutiveDoug Sutherland ran for re-election to a second term. He was challenged by County Councilman Wendell Brown, a Democrat and his opponent from 1992.
On election night, Brown held a narrow lead over Sutherland,[1] but when absentee votes were tallied later in the week, Sutherland took the lead.[2] Sutherland ultimately defeated Brown by a narrow, 2,216-vote margin, winning 47 percent of the vote to Brown's 46 percent, with perennial candidate Dale Washam, an independent, receiving 8 percent of the vote.[3]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Doug Sutherland | 57,803 | 41.59% | |
| Democratic | Wendell Brown | 45,916 | 33.04% | |
| Democratic | Gary L. Smith | 26,563 | 19.11% | |
| Independent | Dale Washam | 8,551 | 6.15% | |
| Write-in | 26 | 0.04% | ||
| Total votes | 138,991 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Doug Sutherland (inc.) | 105,891 | 46.59% | |
| Democratic | Wendell Brown | 103,675 | 45.61% | |
| Independent | Dale Washam | 26,563 | 19.11% | |
| Write-in | 158 | 0.11% | ||
| Total votes | 227,291 | 100.00% | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
