Incumbent Democratic State Sen. Jean Berkey (D-38, Everett) finished in third place after yesterday's latest primary votes were counted. Newcomer, progressive Democrat Nick Harper finished in first.

Unions had vowed to take out Berkey in the primary this year after Berkey voted for state worker furloughs and, as banking committee chair, killed a move to repeal a $50 million loophole for big banks.

Forming a political committee called Stand Up for Citizens , the Washington State Labor Council and the Service Employees International Union poured money into pro-Harper and anti-Berkey independent expenditures, nearly $200,000 against her and $100,000 for Harper.

(Here’s a PubliColaTV interview with Harper.)

In a squeeze play, Moxie Media, the Democratic consultant that did the ads against Berkey and for Harper also did mailers for the Republican in the race , Rod Rieger.

Rieger is in second in the top-two primary, 32.63 percent to 32.24 percent, beating out Berkey by 79 votes. Harper got 35.13 percent, beating Rieger by 507 votes and beating Berkey by 586 votes.

The 38th Legislative District is blue territory and Harper is likely to win in the general. At least that's what the unions are counting on.