Hastings defeats Fearing for Congress

COLUMBIA BASIN - Congressman Doc Hastings, R-4th District, lead his opponent by 44,464 votes statewide Tuesday night.

Hastings accumulated 114,465 votes and Democratic candidate George Fearing has 70,001 votes, according to the Secretary of State's Office.

Hastings has "easily defeated" his opponent, according to the Associated Press.

He will be serving an eighth term.

In Grant County, 15,252

people, or 68.65 percent, voted for Hastings and 6,965 people, or 31.35 percent, voted for Fearing, according to the Grant County Auditor's Office.

There are 6,000 votes left to tabulate in Grant County. The second count is scheduled for today at 4 p.m.

In Adams County, 958 people voted for Hastings and 443 people voted for Fearing, according to the Adams County Auditor's Office.

There are 1,400 votes left to tabulate in Adams County with the second count set for today at 1:30 p.m.

"I want to thank the voters for their support," Hastings stated. "I will keep working hard for local families and communities. Central Washington voters clearly cast their support for candidates who will oppose tax increases, who support economic policies that create more jobs and who will push for government that works for the people."

Hastings serves the House Ethics Committee, is the co-chair of the Northwest Energy Caucus and is a member of the Specialty Crop Caucus and the Rural Health Care Coalition, according to his campaign office.

He supports seeking alternative energy sources within the United States and supports offshore and domestic drilling for oil. In a previous interview with the Columbia Basin Herald he said seeking and using domestic alternative energy will create jobs. Hastings has worked to prevent the closure of the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center and associated medical centers in Moses Lake and Royal City and said he will continue to protect them. He said he plans to work toward expanding overseas trade and toward continuing the cleanup of Hanford.