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 Linda Thomas
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AP
Rob McKenna on election night with his daughters, Madelin, Katie and wife Marilyn. He remains behind Jay Inslee.(AP/Stephen Brashear photo)

No concession from McKenna, but possible ballot challenges

November 8, 2012 @ 9:27 pm (Updated: 10:06 pm - 11/8/12 )

With the latest ballot count showing Jay Inslee's lead over Rob McKenna is about 54,000 votes, a challenge could be ahead from the McKenna camp.

Days after the election, about 2.4 million ballots have been counted with an estimated 606,000 still to process.

McKenna's campaign spokesman says some ballots around the state will be challenged. Charles McCray estimates about 16,000 ballots will need another look, many of them with signatures that appear to be questionable.

The McKenna campaign has attorneys in every county checking on potential ballot issues.

While most political analysts say it's unlikely McKenna will catch up to Inslee, he's not conceding the election. He believes it's possible the remaining ballots will break in his favor.

Inslee remains confident he has won the election and he's preparing a team to take over the Governor's mansion in January.

So far, this race isn't as close as the 2004 contest when only 133 votes separated Chris Gregoire and Dino Rossi. Two recounts and a court challenge later, Gregoire became Washington's 22nd governor.

Sunday night, Gregoire and former Congressman Norm Dicks will be roasted by the Washington News Council as they both retire from office.

By LINDA THOMAS, I'll have a report on the roast of Gregoire and Dicks Monday morning

More from Linda Thomas

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Comments (53)


  • Add A Comment

  • calapete wrote...
    wow.
    November 9, 2012 5:25 am
    It's funny how Republicans are so shocked they lost, McKenna and Romney, both behind in the polls for the last month, both lost, both can't believe it. Reality is not their strong suit.

    At least Romney had the class to concede. McKenna won't let it go. He knows this may be the last time he is relevant, before he crawsl back under the rock he came out of.

    go back to Texas Rob!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    Of course, calapete, had he grown up in California............
    November 9, 2012 5:39 am
    Sour winner wiener . .... Pet has YOU could crawl back to YOUR netherworld hole.

    I don't like being nasty in these posts, but - for you - I'll make an exception.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    I don't know of a single Republican that is shocked McKenna will probably lose - and I know my fair share of Republicans.
    November 9, 2012 5:46 am
    As has been mentioned time and again, no matter how much more qualified a Republican may be, a loss in a state-wide election in Washington is likely. Washington has become arguably the most irrationally liberal State in the union. In other far left states an occasional Republican wins a state-wide election (like Massachusetts and California for example), but not in Washington.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    So Calapete
    November 9, 2012 6:35 am
    Your against Rob challenging

    But I bet you were ok with Gregoire challenging 3 times

    There is a term for that that slips my tongue ..

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    I see rob had a visit with Dino the loser . . . .
    November 9, 2012 5:36 am
    I bet he forgot to tell rob he is going to have the same results as he ha its me the loser did. Rob sure likes to waste taxpayer money. Like he did with Obamacare.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    same to you CH
    November 9, 2012 6:37 am
    I bet you were ok with Gregoire challenging 3 times
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • calapete wrote...
    I see you are also mathmatically challenged, like your GOP
    November 9, 2012 9:32 am
    133 votes = recounts. 50,000 votes means you lost.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Does the Amount matter
    November 9, 2012 9:58 am
    NO

    If your for a challenge for your team you need to accept the challenge from the other side. PERIOD. Otherwise your just a hypocrite.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    and i was looking forward to some real change in WA
    November 9, 2012 5:44 am
    better schools, repealed Obamacare, financial responsibility.....now i know. It is time to move to a RED state where there are other like minded people. Eventually the reality and consequences of your poor voting choices will kick in and you will be sorry. Meanwhile people like me are suffering while the "below poverty" people enjoy their Obama phones, WIC, Welfare, EBT, Section 8, free internet, free lunch and free healthcare. Must be nice to be a sorry sack of crap these days.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Republicans are losers wrote...
    I hear Mississippi is nice...
    November 9, 2012 7:37 am
    don't let the door hit you on the way out.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ten4goodbuddy wrote...
    buh bye
    November 9, 2012 12:04 pm
    See ya guy!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cameron wrote...
    Governor Inslee?
    November 9, 2012 5:54 am
    No problem, Democrats elect the Dumb Guy. As you are wallowing in your pools of Secret Sauce, remember you had a chance to actually move toward meaningful reform and fiscal responsiblility in this State...and you ignored it. There are no checks or balances in Olympia, not the Governors Office, the Executive Branch, the Legislature or the Judiciary. The print media actually got it right in supporting McKenna, but will they hold the Democrat monopoly in Olympia accountable? No.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    If we taxpayers moved away
    November 9, 2012 5:59 am
    who would be left to pay for these Left wing Parrots and their dependency upon Obama?

    Obamunism will be here only as long as they have Americans money to steal!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Republicans are losers wrote...
    Aren't you a public servant fireman?
    November 9, 2012 7:38 am
    sucking on our teat.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Well done KING COUNTY
    November 9, 2012 6:40 am
    I wont say Washington because 32 out of the 39 counties voted McKinna and of the 7 left there were maybe 10K votes total to Inslee

    So this BLAME goes to King County alone

    You elected a man that is going to Drill more and bigger holes in the sinking ship.

    and when we become California 2 who are you going to blame it on. You own all the branches of Washington state. So who are you blaming this time.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    They'll blame Bush.
    November 9, 2012 7:00 am
    .
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    sucking on our teat.
    November 9, 2012 7:46 am
    You are! Time you Parrots grew up and untied mommies apron strings and left the basement!

    But of course this is the way your Dear Leader wants you people. Dependent upon the regime and paid for with our stolen tax dollars!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Republicans are losers
    November 9, 2012 7:55 am
    You are on of the 47 percenters who DO NOT pay taxes. You are a Obama supporting Parrot!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Republicans are losers wrote...
    And you are a loser.
    November 9, 2012 8:12 am
    .
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jeffdb wrote...
    Governor
    November 9, 2012 8:37 am
    Really? McKenna just needs to fade away, vacation with Rossi. Going to waste more limited State resources on a recount?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Same for you Jeff
    November 9, 2012 8:54 am
    Were you ok with Gregoire doing 3 recounts?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Howdy wrote...
    ignorance is bliss
    November 9, 2012 7:48 pm
    SayWA
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • lofat wrote...
    Lucky and Fairness
    November 9, 2012 9:00 am
    It is not a good feeling when the guy you support does not win. However we here in Washington are lucky in the fact that both Mckenna and Inslee are good honest men. I have lived here for sixty years And I don,t think we have ever had a bad Govenor. However, having said that let me say I would like to see a system that would require King county to certify thier votes first before the other counties reported thier vote count. I am sorry to say that I just do not trust King county anymore.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • alexa0414 wrote...
    Huh?
    November 9, 2012 9:11 am
    Dixie Lee Ray?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Im ashamed to admit
    November 9, 2012 9:57 am
    I voted for her :(
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Frogsplash wrote...
    Mike Lowrey and Gregoire
    November 9, 2012 9:24 am
    Were both horrific govenors.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    And Inslee
    November 9, 2012 9:57 am
    Will make us wish we had them back
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Howdy wrote...
    60 years lofat?
    November 9, 2012 7:50 pm
    Have you been in a coma?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }