Many races close as election results continue to roll in | General election results

Mirroring many of the national races this election night, several local contests remain too close to call with the first round of votes coming in Tuesday night. Tuesday was a big night for the Republican Party state-and nationwide, with several local GOP challengers locked in tight races with long-tenured Democrat incumbents.

November 2, 2010 11:23 pm
Republican senate candidate Dino Rossi addresses supporters gathered for election returns at the Hilton Hotel in Bellevue on Tuesday.
Republican senate candidate Dino Rossi addresses supporters gathered for election returns at the Hilton Hotel in Bellevue on Tuesday.

The two words printed on the speaking podium at the Republican rally at the Bellevue Hilton Tuesday night perfectly described the national theme of the General election.

Republican resurgence.

That resurgence led to close contests in many races long-controlled by Democratic incumbents.

In the 48th Legislative District, incumbents Deb Eddy and Ross Hunter and Sen. Rodney hold leads in their races. Tom was behind his opponent, Gregg Bennett by 100 votes when the first results were released. (see full results below).

In the 41st, the two State Reps. Marcie Maxwell and Judy Clibborn are leading their races, while State Sen. Randy Gordon is down 47 points to 52 for Steve Litzow.

At the national level, Dino Rossi remains slightly behind incumbent U.S. Sen. Patty Murray.

Local Republicans were full of smiles, excitement and celebration Tuesday at a rally at the Bellevue Hilton as the first results came in. Volunteers spent hours sitting on the floor making final phone calls to potential voters to remind them the final time to get ballots post-marked was 11:58 p.m. Tuesday.

“This last minute vote, it’s extremely important, to get those votes in,” said Bothell resident Kim Allsup, who was calling residents with her son in the Hilton lobby.

The mood at the Democratic rally at the Bellevue Hyatt Regency was slightly more subdued than that of the Republicans. The rally, which was for U.S. Congressional candidate, Suzan DelBene, was attended by approximately 100 people who cheered at the news that the Democrats would likely hold on to the U.S. Senate.

One of the closest races in the state, the battle between Rossi and Murray, will stretch on for several days, at least, before the outcome is decided. This isn’t something new to Rossi, who was involved in two very close races for governor in previous years.

“Tonight’s about a course correction across America isn’t?” Rossi asked the large, enthusiastic crowd. “We don’t know what’s going to happen in this race yet, whether that course correction is going to fully hit Washington State.”

Turnout has been high so far in this election. The expectation of King County was approximately 68 percent, which may be exceeded with returns from Tuesday and Wednesday coming in, King County Elections representatives said this week.

Locally, City Hall was filled to the brim with last-minute voters who either lost their ballots, or never received them. Voters waited as long as three hours to get their ballots counted.

Results as of 5:30 p.m. Wednesday

41st District

State Senator

Randy Gordon (D) – 17,072 – 47.8%

Steve Litzow (R) – 18,640 – 52.2%

State Representative, Position 1

Peter Dunbar (R) – 17,090 – 48.15%

Marcie Maxwell (D) – 16,306 – 51.85%

State Representative, Position 2

Judy Clibborn (D) – 20,092 – 57.39%

Stephen Strader (R) – 14,918 – 42.61%

48th District

State Senator

Gregg Bennett (R) – 14,027 – 49.43%

Rodney Tom (D) – 14,353 – 50.57%

State Representative, Position 1

Ross Hunter (D) – 14,552 – 51.62%

Diane Tebelius (R) – 13,641 – 48.38%

State Representative, Position 2

Deb Eddy – 15,090 – 54.65%

Philip Wilson – 12,524 – 45.35%

King County Proposition No. 1 – Sales and Use Tax For Criminal Justice, Fire Protection, and Other

Yes: 151,041 – 43.55%

No: 195,74 – 56.45%

U.S. Senator

Dino Rossi (R) – 776,703 – 49.21%

Patty Murray (D) – 801,537 – 50.79%

U.S. Representative, District 8

Suzan DelBene (D) – 87,126 – 45.84%

Dave Reichert (R) – 102,934 – 54.16%

State Measures

Statewide vote totals

I-1098 – Imposing an income tax on individuals earning in excess of $200,000 and joint-filers earning more than $400,000.

YES: 543,337 – 34.59%

NO: 1,035,222 – 65.41%

I-1053 – Imposing a 2/3 majority minimum vote on any vote to raise taxes by the State Legislature.

YES: 1,016,330 – 65.28%

NO: 540,596 – 34.72%

1-1100 – Closing state liquor stores and authorizing sale and distribution of spirits by private retailers.

YES: 755,463 – 47.69%

NO: 828,737 – 52.31%

I-1105 – Closing state liquor stores and authorizing sale and distribution of spirits by private retailers.

YES: 572,885 – 36.31%

NO: 1,004,827 – 63.69%

I-1107 – Repealing taxation on candy, soda, some bottled water and food processors.

YES: 988,546 – 62.42%

NO: 595,122 – 37.58%

I-1082 – Allowing employers to purchase industrial insurance.

YES: 637,611 – 41.68%

NO: 892,259 – 58.32%

Supreme Court, Justice Position 6

Richard Sanders – 640,467 – 51%

Charlie Wiggins – 615,374 – 49%