Inslee leads in governor’s race

Published 8:30 pm Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Democrat Jay Inslee is leading in the race for Washington governor with 51.8 percent of the vote over Republican challenger Rob McKenna, who had 48.1 percent in early returns.

The lead changed hands quickly on Election Night.

McKenna was leading with 54 percent of the vote in the first vote tally Tuesday.

Inslee had 45 percent of the vote in the first tally.

The early tally included votes from Kitsap, Jefferson, San Juan, Island, Mason, Pacific, Cowlitz, Whatcom and Pierce counties in Western Washington, and Chelan, Kittitas, Douglas, Grant, Benton, Franklin, Adams, Lincoln, Ferry, Pend Oreille, Spokane and Garfield counties in Eastern Washington.

The lead changed after votes from King County were added to the total. Inslee had 63 percent of the vote in King County.