KGMI News

SEATTLE (AP) – Former U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan has taken a strong early lead in the race for Seattle mayor.

The election will give the city its first female mayor since the 1920s.

91 years after the city elected Bertha Knight Landes as mayor, early returns showed Durkan leading with 61 percent of the vote and Cary Moon tallying just over 39 percent.

Durkan is claiming victory. “We’ll have a very orderly transition, we’ll make sure we put a team in place, but we’re not going to try and make all the changes in 3 weeks. That wouldn’t be responsible,” Durkan said.

Ballot counting will continue over the next several days.

Voters are choosing who will lead the city dealing with the benefits and problems of an economy booming as e-commerce giant Amazon expands.

 

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