Two candidates hold a clear edge over their opponents in the four-person primary for Pacific County Sheriff, according to initial election returns Tuesday night. Early results released by the Pacific County Auditor’s Office just after polls closed at 8 p.m. showed that incumbent sheriff Daniel Garcia and challenger Rich Byrd were receiving the most votes in the Aug. 4 top-two primary. Garcia, a Republican, currently leads all candidates with 46.2% of the vote, while Byrd, running as an independent, is in second with 34.4%. Gray, of Raymond, has served as chair of the Pacific County Republican Party since 2025 and previously served on the board of the Willapa Harbor Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the Raymond Planning Commission and has worked as a general contractor in Pacific County for 30 years.