This Washington
Recount in Wiggins-Sanders Race? Plus, the Latest Results
Since both Josh and Erica have been suspended, I'm now PubliCola's de facto editor. Here's my report on today's state races.
State supreme court justice Richard Sanders' lead over challenger Charlie Wiggins continued to shrink in this afternoon's vote count, to a margin of 50.3 to 49.7 percent, a gap of fewer than 9,000 votes. Over the past few days, Wiggins has been narrowing Sanders' lead---from a margin of 25,093 votes statewide two days ago, to 14,413 yesterday, to 8,925 today. A margin of fewer than 2,000 votes triggers an automatic recount in statewide races. In King County, Wiggins leads by a margin of 58 to 42 percent.
Sanders, a gay-marriage opponent whose actions on the bench have often been controversial, got himself in trouble shortly before the election when he suggested that African Americans are incarcerated at a disproportionate rate because they have a “crime problem.”
In the close race between US Rep. Rick Larsen (D-2) and GOP challenger John Koster, Larsen increased his lead to more than 2,000 votes, up from just over 500 yesterday.
On the Eastside, some senate races remain close, while some now appear to lean decisively for the Democratic incumbents. In the 48th, Sen. Rodney Tom is far outpacing challenger Gregg Bennett, with 51.5 percent to Bennett's 49.5 percent. In the 30th, Sen. Tracey Eide has a 51.7 point lead over challenger Tony Moore. And in the 44th, Sen. Steve Hobbs has again increased his lead over Republican Dave Schmidt, 50.3 to 49.7, a margin of 256 votes.
State supreme court justice Richard Sanders' lead over challenger Charlie Wiggins continued to shrink in this afternoon's vote count, to a margin of 50.3 to 49.7 percent, a gap of fewer than 9,000 votes. Over the past few days, Wiggins has been narrowing Sanders' lead---from a margin of 25,093 votes statewide two days ago, to 14,413 yesterday, to 8,925 today. A margin of fewer than 2,000 votes triggers an automatic recount in statewide races. In King County, Wiggins leads by a margin of 58 to 42 percent.
Sanders, a gay-marriage opponent whose actions on the bench have often been controversial, got himself in trouble shortly before the election when he suggested that African Americans are incarcerated at a disproportionate rate because they have a “crime problem.”
In the close race between US Rep. Rick Larsen (D-2) and GOP challenger John Koster, Larsen increased his lead to more than 2,000 votes, up from just over 500 yesterday.
On the Eastside, some senate races remain close, while some now appear to lean decisively for the Democratic incumbents. In the 48th, Sen. Rodney Tom is far outpacing challenger Gregg Bennett, with 51.5 percent to Bennett's 49.5 percent. In the 30th, Sen. Tracey Eide has a 51.7 point lead over challenger Tony Moore. And in the 44th, Sen. Steve Hobbs has again increased his lead over Republican Dave Schmidt, 50.3 to 49.7, a margin of 256 votes.
