Suzan DelBene wins in newly drawn 1st District

BY Chris Sullivan  on November 7, 2012 @ 5:36 am (Updated: 6:08 am - 11/7/12 )

delbeneel2012.jpg
Democrat Suzan DelBene is leading Republican John Koster in Washington's newly drawn 1st District Congressional race. (Image courtesy Suzan DelBene) | Zoom
Democrat Suzan DelBene has defeated Republican John Koster in Washington's most-contested congressional race.

In early returns Tuesday night, DelBene led by 54 percent to 46 percent for Koster in the race for the open 1st Congressional District seat.

Spanning from the suburbs of King County to the Canadian border in Whatcom County, the sprawling, redrawn district was seen as a toss-up throughout the election. After the 2010 Census, Washington gained a congressional seat.

DelBene, a former Microsoft executive, defeated a group of Democrats in the primary to face Koster, who faced little opposition from his own party. DelBene used more than $2 million of her own money in the campaign.

In a speech Tuesday night, DelBene said she'd like to bring the energy and the engagement from the campaign into congress.

Koster has said he will not concede until numbers are reviewed from the next ballot drop around 4 p.m. Wednesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Chris Sullivan, KIRO Radio Reporter
Chris loves the rush of covering breaking news and works hard to try to make sense of it all while telling stories about real people in extraordinary circumstances.
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  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    New Congressional Nut Job
    November 7, 2012 5:02 am
    Takes over for Boxer as the farthest left looney.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bora wrote...
    I guess in today's days
    November 7, 2012 7:01 am
    we don't care D or R. as lond as they aren't gays or lesbians.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NW observer wrote...
    Democrat Rep
    November 7, 2012 7:12 am
    Another D who will be as irrelevant in a Republican controlled House as Jim McDermott (sp?). Same thing for the R's in the Senate. Four more years of gridlock.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Moondoggie wrote...
    Now do we get to find out?
    November 7, 2012 7:36 am
    Who allowed a wealthy Democrat donor to steal from the State by not paying the millions owned on that airplane purchase? I want to thank Queen Chris for stonewalling this investigation until after the election. It would have just cluttered out silly little heads.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }