The first results from the 2012 general election were released at 8:15 p.m. by King County and Snohomish County Elections Tuesday evening with local Democrats having a big night.
One of the most evenly divided Congressional races in the country took place in the newly redrawn 1st Congressional District of Washington State.
First results show an advantage for Democrat Suzan DelBene against Republican John Koster.
DelBene, who was at an election night party at the Woodmark Hotel in Kirkland with her daughter, husband and mother-in-law, noted that she was “very confident” from initial election results that she would win the race. She also commended her challenger, Koster, for running and his strong commitment to public service.
She spoke about how tough her campaign has been in the most evenly-divided district in the country.
“For me, this campaign has always been about standing up for working families and the middle class,” she said. “Many families throughout our district have been struggling, and yet people need to have access to opportunity – the same opportunities that I had when I was growing up. And they deserve someone who will go to Congress and fight for them.”
DelBene leads 59.02-40.85 percent, or 45,676 votes to 31,613. The district covers all of Kirkland, Kenmore and Bothell, running from I-90 up to the Canadian border and was vacated by gubernatorial candidate Jay Inslee last spring.
Another hotly contested race pit longtime 1st District State Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe (D-Bothell) against Northshore School Board member Dawn McCravey. McAuliffe held an advantage in the first results released Tuesday evening, 57.27-42.6 percent (6,734-5,010 votes). The district covers all of Bothell and the north end of Kirkland.
The 1st Legislative District has two races to send a representative to Olympia. Incumbent Luis Moscoso (D-Mountlake Terrace) leads challenger Mark T. Davies 64.35-35.45 percent (7,036-3,876) for Position 2.
In the Position 1 race, former Bothell Deputy Mayor and Republican candidate Sandy Guinn is trailing incumbent Derek Sanford (D-Bothell) 59.6-40.28 percent (6,850-4,630).
The 32nd Legislative District includes all of Kenmore and Finn Hill in Kirkland with both state legislative positions up for grabs.
In Position 1, incumbent Cindy Ryu (D-Shoreline) leads her republican challenger Randy J. Hayden 76.35-23.45 percent (15,526-4,775).
Position 2 has incumbent Ruth Kagi (D-Shoreline) leading her republican challenger Robert Reedy 77.56-22.53 percent (15,715-4,520).
The race for King County Sheriff looks to be over as John Urquhart is defeating interim Sheriff Steve Strachan 57.35-42.23 percent (254,600-187,491).
Editor Carrie Rodriguez contributed to this story.
