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Seattle on its Way to Electing a New Mayor

 

Seattle may soon have a new mayor.

State Sen. Ed Murray carried 56 percent of the vote in the first round of ballot counting Tuesday night, building a lead over incumbent Mayor Mike McGinn. Because Washington state votes entirely by mail, many ballots were not counted Tuesday.

The two candidates have embraced similar policy proposals, including a $15 minimum wage, new taxes and legal marijuana. The campaign largely centered on a difference in style, with Murray seeking a more collaborative way of governing and McGinn saying that a leader can't appease everybody when pushing major policy changes.

Murray's message helped him build a broad coalition of backers, including substantial endorsements and financial support.

Murray was the architect of the state's gay marriage law.

Paula is a former host, reporter and producer who retired from KNKX in 2021. She joined the station in 1989 as All Things Considered host and covered the Law and Justice beat for 15 years. Paula grew up in Idaho and, prior to KNKX, worked in public radio and television in Boise, San Francisco and upstate New York.