SEATTLE – Proving that money isn’t everything, the top vote-getter in Tuesday’s primary for an open Supreme Court seat was Court of Appeals Judge Mary Kay Becker, the No. 3 fund-raiser in the race.
Becker’s diverse background includes stints as a legislator, private attorney, Whatcom County councilwoman and novelist. She has served on the Court of Appeals for a decade and also had experience as a pro tem Supreme Court justice.
Becker has trailed in fund-raising to appellate attorney Jim Johnson and King County Superior Court Judge Robert Alsdorf, but they trailed her in early returns.
The two top finishers in the race for the open seat will advance to the primary. In the other two Supreme Court primaries, two incumbents were hoping pull in more than 50 percent of the primary vote, which would allow them to win their races outright.
Justice Barbara Madsen held a hefty lead over challenger Terrence Lukens. Lukens is a King County Superior Court judge and former Bellevue mayor.
Justice Richard Sanders, in a six-way race to keep his seat, was leading. His closest challenger was Terry Sebring, an assistant attorney general and former Pierce County Superior Court judge.
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