SEATTLE – Political newcomer Darcy Burner, the Democrats’ only remaining hope of gaining a congressional seat in Washington state, closed in slightly on Republican U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert as new results were announced Wednesday. The race remained too close to call.
With about 152,500 ballots counted in the 8th District race, Burner had 49.1 percent to Reichert’s 50.9 percent – a deficit of 2,736 votes. The updated numbers came after King County released the results of 28,500 votes tallied Wednesday. Pierce County, where Reichert has stronger support, released about 2,750 votes.
Earlier in the day, Reichert’s lead was 51.1 percent to 48.9 percent. King County still has at least 31,500 ballots to count.
Burner, a 35-year-old former Microsoft Corp. project manager, put up a surprisingly tough campaign, thanks largely to efforts portraying Reichert as a rubber stamp for an unpopular president. Reichert criticized her lack of political experience.
Going into the election, the Democrats’ only other hope for gaining a seat in the state was rancher Peter Goldmark in Eastern Washington’s 5th District. He lost decisively to freshman incumbent Cathy McMorris, 55 percent to 45 percent.
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