Rep. Drew Hansen expressed thankful optimism on Election Night as voters were awarding the incumbent Democrat with another term representing the 23rd District in Olympia.

“I’m very, very grateful for these early results,” Hansen said. “They are a lot of ballots to count yet, but so far, it looks like

the voters like what they’re seeing from my focus on jobs and the economy, and want to send me back for another term.”

“I’ve been working very hard with my Republican counterparts on bipartisan proposals to protect jobs, and help people train for better jobs,” he added.

“In an era where it sometimes seems like nothing can get done in Congress, I think people find it refreshing to see real, positive, concrete progress at the state level,” Hansen said.

Hansen was easily dispatching his opponent, Republican James M. Olsen, for the 23rd District, Position 2 seat in the state House of Representatives in early vote returns on Election Night.

Hansen was leading in the race with 61.6 percent of the vote.

Olsen had 38.2 percent, according to the first vote tally announced Tuesday.

Olsen said he may just be a bit ahead of voters.

“My campaign was based on the principled issues of limited government, rule of law, constitutional respect and a sincere belief that real reform is overdue for Olympia. And apparently I may be ahead of the wave as far as people perceiving that,” he said.

“But the realization will come that we have 21,000 developmentally disabled; the Legislature got an F for funding education; we have a mental health crisis; we have a Washington state ferry system that’s broken; and we have a person who is leading me in the numbers right now who seems to think that everything is fine.”

Olsen also noted the huge difference in campaign coffers.

“But I am honored to have stepped forward and rung the bell on these important issues and the voters will be bird-dogging the winner in this election on those key issues,” he said.

A total of 29,445 votes have been counted in the race. Hansen had 18,176, and Olsen, 11,269. There were 67 write-in votes.

County election officials estimate there will be another 20,000 ballots to count on Wednesday.

The race largely centered on the economy and education.

Olsen, 64, is a former officer in the Coast Guard and runs a real-estate investment and rental company.

In making his third attempt for the seat — and in a rematch race against Hansen — Olsen again touted his 30-year military career.

He also promised to fully fund K-12 education in light of the Washington State Supreme Court’s McCleary decision in 2012 that said the Legislature had not amply funded basic education, as called for by the state Constitution.

Olsen, who characterized himself as a reform candidate, also vowed to create jobs with a mix of regulatory streamlining and tax incentives. He called for performance audits in state government, and limited government, and said he opposed a state income tax, increased funding for education, and Initiative 594, which would expand background checks on gun sales.

The race had a familiar feel. Olsen recycled some of his message from his previous race against Hansen, along with his yard signs and YouTube videos, and criticized the contributions his opponent received from other lawyers and special interest groups.

Hansen raised $155,013 in donations for the 2014 race; Olsen pulled in donations of $1,263.

Both Hansen and Olsen live on Bainbridge Island.

Hansen, 42, is a lawyer and lawmaker who was first appointed to the House of Representatives in 2011. He is a partner at the Seattle law firm of Susman Godfrey when the Legislature in not in session.

The incumbent also ran on a platform of jobs and education.

Hansen touted his record in Olympia, and, as examples, recalled the bipartisan bill that was signed into law that expands AP computer science classes in Washington high schools, as well as the bills to protect marine industry jobs by getting derelict and abandoned vessels out of state waters. He also stressed his work on expanding the engineering program at Olympic College.

The race was a rematch of the 2012 battle for the 23rd District, Position 2 seat, which Hansen won handily with 60 percent of the vote.

This election marked the third time that Olsen has sought the District 23, Position 2 seat in the state House.

He first ran against then-Rep. Christine Rolfes in November 2010, and lost by 8,539 votes.

In November 2012, when he challenged Hansen for the seat, Olsen lost by 13,533 votes.

When asked on Election Night if it was too soon to consider his future in politics, Olsen referred to a statement he sent to the press shortly after the first results were announced Tuesday night.

In it, Olsen thanked his wife, family and supporters.

He also promised a comeback: “In conclusion, I paraphrase World War II five-star general and field marshal of the Philippine Army, spoken to the people of the Philippines ‘Whence I came, I shall return.’ Tonight, I repeat those words: I shall return! I too shall return. God Bless and thank you.”