Lewis County, Washington

Lewis County Auditor

Merrill and Townsend are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Names follow official Lewis County election filings.

About this race

Mitchell L. Merrill and Mitch Townsend meet on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Lewis County Auditor, per the Secretary of State's VoteWA general-election candidate list.

What this office does

County auditor. The county auditor keeps the county's books, processes payments and payroll, and prepares financial reports. In some states the auditor also calculates property tax rates, oversees elections or certifies the budget. The office is a check on how county money is spent.

This race. Every voter in Lewis County votes on this seat.

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

Washington › Lewis County › Lewis County Auditor

Mitchell L. Merrill

Republican

Top priorities

From other published sources

Follow the law in an ethical and accurate manner, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide
Continue to leverage modern technology, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide
Give power to the people through access to information, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide

Biography

Merrill is a Washington State Certified Public Accountant with nearly 10 years of public accounting experience and a current business owner, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide. He holds an MBA from Pacific Lutheran University and was raised in Lewis County, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Mitch Townsend

Republican

Top priorities

From other published sources

Audit the Auditor's Office, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide
Election integrity: audit Lewis County voter rolls, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide
Audit and open the books of all county departments, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide

Biography

Townsend is a U.S. Army infantry veteran, former college instructor and businessman with 35 years of executive experience and over 25 years of business accounting, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide. He has lived in Lewis County for over 30 years and holds graduate degrees from Pepperdine and Gonzaga, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotLewis County Clerk

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Lewis County Auditor in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Lewis County Auditor on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Mitchell L. Merrill and Mitch Townsend. Candidate information follows official Lewis County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Lewis County Auditor election in Washington?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Washington are on the Washington election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Lewis County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Lewis County and state election office filings, last verified October 26, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Washington election office, or see the full Lewis County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Lewis County ballot

15 tracked races in Lewis County, Washington. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Lewis County Coroner Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney Lewis County Sheriff See all 15 Lewis County races

Candidate profiles

Mitchell L. Merrill, full profile Mitch Townsend, full profile Official Washington election office