Sheryl McCloud of Bainbridge Island is finding her strongest support in Jefferson, Clallam, Pacific and Cowlitz counties in her pursuit for the Justice Position 9 on the Washington State Supreme Court, according to the initial vote count on Election Night.

McCloud is leading with 33.3 percent of the vote; Richard B. Sanders was second with 29.9 percent of the vote in the four-way race.

McCloud had the lead in 16 counties in early vote returns.

She was ahead in Kitsap, Mason, Jefferson, Skagit, Clallam, Pacific and Cowlitz counties. In Eastern Washington, she was also leading in Klickitat, Okanogan, Douglas, Walla Walla, Columbia, Asotin, Whitman, Spokane and Pen Oreille counties.

Sanders was in front in Lewis, Kittitas, Chelan, Grant, Franklin, Adams, Lincoln, Ferry and Garfield counties.

John W. Ladenburg, a former Tacoma City Council member, and prosecuting attorney and county executive for Pierce County, was leading in Pierce County.

Nine counties have yet to give an initial vote tally on Election Night.

Election results had not yet been received for Snohomish, King, Grays Harbor, Thurston, Clark, Wahkiakum, Yakima, Benton and Stevens counties.

McCloud’s strongest county so far is Jefferson, where she had collected 42 percent of the vote in the initial tally. She pulled in 41 percent of the vote in Clallam, Pacific and Cowlitz counties.

In Kitsap County, her home, she has received 35 percent of the vote.

A total of 295,242 votes were counted in the first tally.