‘We’re several days away’: GOP strategist predicts Seattle mayoral race timeline

Nearly one week since ballots began to be counted for the next mayor of Seattle, the incumbent candidate, Bruce Harrell, holds a slim 4,000-vote lead over the challenger Katie Wilson.

As ballots continue to be logged and more information is released on who will lead Seattle as mayor, Republican strategist Randy Pepple joined “Seattle’s Morning News” on KIRO Newsradio to predict when voters can potentially see a winner be named.

“I still think we’re several days away. You’re going to see a big chunk of votes counted today, but all that’s going to do is tighten up the race and leave us wondering how many more ballots will need to be found or cured for the candidate that comes in behind to try and move ahead,” Pepple said. “Certification isn’t until Nov. 25, so you could be waiting up until the Tuesday before Thanksgiving for the final word.”

Pepple forecasted which candidate he thinks will win the race, what Wilson needs as the election nears its final stages, and his belief that a small margin of victory could prompt either party to request a recount.

“I do think that Katie Wilson’s going to emerge the victor. The question is whether it’s going to be a recount, where the race is so close that they’re going to have to go back through the ballots,” Pebble said. “She has to beat Harrell by about 10% of the remaining votes of the 45,000 that are out to erase his 4,300 vote advantage. If Harrell stated adding to that total today, and she saw the writing on the wall, she could end the race, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “Seattle’s Morning News” with Charlie Harger and Manda Factor weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. on KIRO Newsradio. Subscribe to the podcast here.