Primary Election Liveblog
At 8:15 tonight the first results of the August primary will be posted. Turnout has been estimated at 30%, but as of tonight only 15% of registered voters have returned ballots. In keeping with tradition most everywhere, the initial results are usually the least progressive on urbanist issues, with decent trending in our direction thereafter. And results may not be known for days, with Kshama Sawant's slow bleed of Richard Conlin being the most recent example.
The unfortunate tensions in the progressive community between pro-development urbanists and social justice urbanists may also lead to very unpredictable results, so there will be much to watch. Primaries may often seem boring, but they occasionally come in with a bang, elevating the Mallahans and McGinns of the world and sending the sitting Mayor packing for Harvard. And in any case, a 47-candidate free for all and unprecedented district elections leave a little something for everyone to analyze tonight. So go at it! We'll be liveblogging off-and-on with any interesting observations.
8:03: As SounderBruce points out, Snohomish County results are posted here.
8:04: As always, follow the Stranger crew doing what they do best: election party pub crawls!
8:07: On Twitter, follow #seaelex for the latest news and gossip.
8:15 FIRST DROP. Bolded are STB endorsed candidates
- District 1: Braddock 29%, Herbold 27%, Tavel 19%, Thomas 10%
- District 2: Harrell 62%, Morales 24%, Farris 13%
- District 3: Sawant 50%, Banks 35%, Hearne 10%, Beach 2%
- District 4: Johnson 33%, Maddux 23%, Godden 21%, Provine 14%
- District 5: Juarez 38%, Brown 21%, Watkins 14%, Lethin 8%,Toledo 6%, Elizalde 6%, Dash 5%
- District 6: O'Brien 58%, Weatbrook 22%, Lisbin 14%
- District 7: Bagshaw 76%, Zech-Artis 13%, Hartmann 10%
- At-Large 8: Burgess 48%, Grant 28%, Roderick 16%, Persak 7%
- At-Large 9: Gonzalez 64%, Bradburd 15%, Bassok 9%, Tobin 9%
8:26: Quick hits. Godden is the only threatened incumbent, with Johnson a clear winner and Maddux and Godden too close to call. Banks is consolidating the anti-Sawant vote, but that isn't likely to be anywhere near enough. Braddock and Herbold will almost surely face off in D1. Roderick's showing is disappointing, and Grant looks to have successfully ridden Sawant's coattails and consolidated the rent control vote. Bradburd didn't come close, and Gonzalez will cruise to election in November.
8:43: I agree with Erica's basic analysis.
The neighborhood pitchforks are blunt. Urbanists look to have survived the night, with candidates like Bradburd losing badly. The interesting races to watch will be D1, where Braddock and Herbold will likely go neck and neck, and Grant vs. Burgess, which will likely be a very ugly contest.