August primary first count: Pedersen says ‘We did it,’ Sawant will need big turnaround in bid for D.C., Seattle loves libraries

Pedersen’s day after Election Night message: “We did it“

Tuesday’s Election Night counts in the August primary seem likely to cement the path to victory this November for two longtime Democratic Party leaders from the area.

Capitol Hill State Sen. Jamie Pedersen, the party’s current Majority Leader in the state Senate, tallied a good enough 71% of Tuesday’s first count in his race to hold his seat leading Washington’s 43rd District with turnout in the area just over 18%.

“We did it,” Pedersen’s campaign message following the Election Night tally read. “Thank you to every voter who placed their trust in our campaign. Together, we’ve built a movement focused on protecting fundamental freedoms, investing in Washington families, and creating a fairer future.”

Meanwhile, the bid for Congress by Kshama Sawant, the longtime Capitol Hill and Central District leader on the Seattle City Council, will require another epic turnaround as the challenger claimed only 12.5% of the Election Night vote in her effort to unseat incumbent Rep. Adam Smith in the 9th Congressional District.

Smith claimed just over 50% of the first tally, Kent’s Doug Basler, Smith’s Republican challenger, currently holds the second slot at just over 24%.

If Basler’s lead holds, it could bring an abrupt end to Sawant’s nationwide ambitions, CHS reported last year as Sawant launched her campaign a year ago after ending her time at Seattle City Hall, setting out to build her Workers Strike Back organization into a national labor movement. Sawant has a history of massive success with late voters including a legendary reversal in her 2019 bid to retain her city council seat.

In the primary election, the top two finishers continue on to November’s general election vote.

For Pedersen, that will mean a continued battle with first-time candidate and “Tax the Rich” proponent Hannah Sabio-Howell. The First Hill resident watched as her totals landed just below 18% at an Election Night party held at Capitol Hill’s Stoup Brewing.

CHS reported here on the political and financial maneuverings behind the 43rd District contest as Democratic leaders poured money into the race to buttress Pedersen, an architect of the Millionaires Tax, and a veteran lawmaker who has been part of 43rd District leadership for twenty years. As later voter totals likely swing to Sabio-Howell, much of that spending could shift to tighter races elsewhere in the state depending on how much the social Democrat challengers can cut the race.

Meanwhile, Capitol Hill, Central District, and Seattle voters appear set to overwhelmingly support renewal of the city’s library levy with 72% of Election Night votes marked “yes.”

The measure will nearly double the city’s library tax rate to $0.23 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Over the course of the proposal’s seven-year run, the median Seattle homeowner would pay about $163 a year, according to the city’s analysis. Officials say the bump would raise around $480 million over the seven-year span.

CHS reported here on the proposal that includes millions for security and social services including a planned $11 million to fund security personnel and $1.2 million to support social service referrals across the 27 library system.

The previous Seattle Library Levy passed with 76% of the vote in 2019.

Another key city race is taking place in North Seattle. There voters are choosing two candidates to go through to November for the District 5 seat on the city council. Community advocate Niku Jenks and public safety-focused candidate Julie Kang are the leaders in that race.

You can view the latest state results at results.votewa.gov.

Find totals for King County and Seattle at kingcounty.gov.

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