McKenna preps for long haul in governor ballot count
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna prepared Thursday for a potentially prolonged ballot count, with campaign aides beginning an extensive effort to make sure votes get counted.
As election officials tallied more votes, McKenna's campaign field staff shifted its focus to about 16,000 challenged ballots around the state, the candidate's spokesman Charles McCray said. Aides are working to notify people whose ballots have been challenged, often due to mismatched signatures.
McKenna's campaign also has attorneys in every county that are prepared to deal with any issues that arise.
"We'll take it beyond this week if that's what it takes to make sure he's the next governor," McCray said.
Newly counted ballots on Thursday gave little credence to that hope, as Democrat Jay Inslee still held about 51 percent of the vote compared to 49 percent for McKenna. McKenna campaign manager Randy Pepple said they still believe votes will start breaking toward them on Friday, over the weekend and early next week.
Roughly three-quarters of the ballots that officials expect to receive have been counted so far.
McKenna, who currently serves as the state's attorney general, trails Democrat Jay Inslee by about 50,000 votes, but election officials say hundreds of thousands of ballots are left to count. The Republican believes later ballots will break in his direction, giving him the chance to make up that ground.
Counties prepared to update vote counts Thursday afternoon and evening.
Inslee, a former congressman, has said he's confident his lead will hold and has started preparing a team to help him transition into office in January. However, the Democrat has stopped short of declaring victory, acknowledging vote counts can take days.
Inslee spokesman Sterling Clifford said the campaign also was reaching out to people with challenged ballots. But he said it was because it was in everyone's interest to have ballots counted — not because of fears that the campaign's lead may disappear.
"We continue to have tremendous confidence in what the final results will be," Clifford said.
Because of Washington's shift to all-mail voting, in which ballots only have to be postmarked by Election Day, the state is used to prolonged counts. Voters also have experience with close governor's races after current Gov. Chris Gregoire won the 2004 contest by a mere 133 votes after two recounts and a court challenge.
As election officials tallied more votes, McKenna's campaign field staff shifted its focus to about 16,000 challenged ballots around the state, the candidate's spokesman Charles McCray said. Aides are working to notify people whose ballots have been challenged, often due to mismatched signatures.
McKenna's campaign also has attorneys in every county that are prepared to deal with any issues that arise.
"We'll take it beyond this week if that's what it takes to make sure he's the next governor," McCray said.
Newly counted ballots on Thursday gave little credence to that hope, as Democrat Jay Inslee still held about 51 percent of the vote compared to 49 percent for McKenna. McKenna campaign manager Randy Pepple said they still believe votes will start breaking toward them on Friday, over the weekend and early next week.
Roughly three-quarters of the ballots that officials expect to receive have been counted so far.
McKenna, who currently serves as the state's attorney general, trails Democrat Jay Inslee by about 50,000 votes, but election officials say hundreds of thousands of ballots are left to count. The Republican believes later ballots will break in his direction, giving him the chance to make up that ground.
Counties prepared to update vote counts Thursday afternoon and evening.
Inslee, a former congressman, has said he's confident his lead will hold and has started preparing a team to help him transition into office in January. However, the Democrat has stopped short of declaring victory, acknowledging vote counts can take days.
Inslee spokesman Sterling Clifford said the campaign also was reaching out to people with challenged ballots. But he said it was because it was in everyone's interest to have ballots counted — not because of fears that the campaign's lead may disappear.
"We continue to have tremendous confidence in what the final results will be," Clifford said.
Because of Washington's shift to all-mail voting, in which ballots only have to be postmarked by Election Day, the state is used to prolonged counts. Voters also have experience with close governor's races after current Gov. Chris Gregoire won the 2004 contest by a mere 133 votes after two recounts and a court challenge.
I find it hilarious that the same people that were shouting that EVERY VOTE NEEDS TO BE COUNTED during the previous two elections and were all aboard the recount train when Gregoire was trailing are the same people who are now telling the McKenna to throw in the towel now before everything is done. And the same side that is saying McKenna needs to hang in there were saying Gregoire needs to give it up during the previous two elections as well. The hypocrisy of people is just too much some times.
*was saying
After reading many of the below comments some of you make me absolutely sick. There are ballots not counted yet that were mailed and then there are the provisional ballots,  There is nothing wrong with making sure ALL votes are counted PROPERLY. Just think all your Democrats!!!!! Now all your gay friends can get married while you're all smoking pot and if you get tired of big government and big taxes you can opt to end your life. All in beautiful Washington State!!! Yeah yeah I know I can leave, but sadly I'm kind of stuck here.
I know my ballet couldn't of been counted yet, I had to vote in another county cause I couldn't make it back and it will need to ne mailed to the county I am registered in. Hang in there McKenna, at least one more vote is coming your way :-)
McKenna didn't win because he has a misshaped head. Â
I've read through several of the comments below and wanted to throw in some info. I worked the polls in Snohomish County and we did a tour of the whole ballot process from start to finish. If anyone contests the results and asks for a recount, that candidate has to PAY for the employees who are doing the recount. Then if the results are overturned in their favor as a result of the recount they will get reimbursed. So please don't make this into something the taxpayers are having to pay for. I agree with those who have stated lets wait until all the votes are in. As far as I'm concerned, no races should concede before the info is in. But we can blame ourselves for that... the public would never stand for not knowing a winner for several weeks after the election!
Wishing don't make it so Robby. Good luck with the job hunt.
This has been the worst year I have ever had for voting in King County. They kicked my ballot out for not having a signature, but I did sign that bugger. The only thing I can think of, who is stuffing the ballot box? I voted using my personal feelings and knowledge. I would expect a voting system like this in some third world country, but now we have it here. After 40 years of voting I feel Disenfranchised as an American. I even got a letter from the Voting people asking me if I was morale enough to vote and if I was an American? Who ever said your Vote counts, must have been using drugs.
 @darkhelmet Sorry you are feeling disenfranchised by King County. King County had also sent me a letter telling me that my ballot hadn't been signed. I am almost sure I signed mine. Anyway they sent along a signature form, I signed the form returned it to King County. I did not get confirmation that my ballot was counted. I'll have to pay closer attention next time. But rather than feel disenfranchised by the whole thing I am just going to file it under s**t happens and let it go.
I foresee at least one recount, this race is simply too close to call after a single count.
 @left-center 56,000 votes is too close to call? Even when there's only 16,000 challenged votes?Â
Just please let all votes be counted and don't insist on recount after recount, Mr. McKenna.
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This is coming from someone that voted for you.
McKenna, lets do some simple math.
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You are behind by over 50,000 votes. 3/4 of the votes have been counted and King County is coming in AT THE SAME TIME AS THE REST OF THE STATE. Therefore your % won't change.
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Lets see what happens if you won 100% of those 16,000 challenged ballots.
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50,000 - 16,000 = 34,000
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I would have thought someone with a law degree could do simple math. Concede now before you become even more of a laughing stock.
McKenna doesn't have the wisdom of his party or Mr. Romney. Why this determination to flog a dead horse? Is it to punish people by wasting more money? What makes McKenna greater than his party or the party's candidate? Save your energies for the efforts that have to be made in the future, so that the whole state can get is business done; that is the reason fro sending people to Olympia. It has nothing to do with ego at all, unless of course his is so monumental he can't simply back out gracefully like a man with maturity.
McKenna, the lead WIDENED today, there's not many votes left. Bow out with the last tiny shred of dignity that you probably don't have left.Â
 @NorthwestEconomist Listen. I voted, same as you. I took the time to vote, so that I would be counted. Whether he wins or not, I want my vote and all others to be counted prior to any ballet being passed or election being called.
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You are one of the major reasons why people don't vote. People like you give legitimacy to the argument "well, my vote wont count". Please, grow up.
 @Chaney  @NorthwestEconomist Go back to school and learn some basic statistics. He can concede now and if the vote manages to magically change (more unlikely than the sun going supernova) then he'd still be the winner, but he's holding WA state hostage in uncertainty.Â
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All counties are coming in simultaneously. We're 3/4 done. The % has not changed in 3 days. Do you understand what the word "trend" means? Even if McKenna won 100% of the 16,000 challenged ballots, he'd still lose, and he won't get 100% of them.
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56,000 - 16,000 = 40,000.
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Get it?
 @NorthwestEconomist  @Chaney I think the point here is that as stated in the article that people votes (for both sides) are NOT getting counted, Those need to be counted no matter who they are for. If people are voting but not being counted than YES their vote was a waste we need to guarantee EVERY SINGLE vote is counted....and im sure that I didn't vote the same way as "Chaney" just want to make sure the system is working.
 @Chaney Apparently you didn't see a need to create an account when R074 declared victory, nor on any of the other races like 502. Says loads about you.Â
 @Scott Learn to read the whole article:
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"We'll take it beyond this week if that's what it takes to make sure he's the next governor," McCray said.
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You see? His cronies are prepared to sue and contest regardless of the vote count. They want to fight and cost us as much money as possible in a huge hissy fit to try and punish WA voters for note electing him.
 @NorthwestEconomist How about you be a little less of a prick?
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McKenna is not holding WA state hostage, our procedure of having ballots mailed in postmarked by election day is holding the state hostage. Every vote should count and we should wait patiently to get the count. It's not like whoever wins becomes Governer as soon as one concedes...
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Get it?
 @NorthwestEconomist I'm sorry, I created this account 30 minutes ago. I have no prior comments. Are you sure you know how to use the internet?
 @Chaney Hrm, I've looked at your other posts. it doesn't seem to bother you that almost all the other races were called before the final count was done. I guess it only matters for races/candidates/issues that YOU think are important... How hypocritical...
 @NorthwestEconomist I read your prior posts before commenting. I am fully aware, and I doubt by any measure he will win. That said...
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I voted. Count it.
Really? A post from the AP from yesterday on a local governor's race??? Short on reporters these days?? Corrupt?? The most telling thing about THIS election is the lack of voter participation...63% statewide??? Get rid of the ballots and let the voters either go back to the polls or, (what a concept) register & vote from their computers or phones...Take this crap out of the 1940's technology...Can't we get an app for that???
No doubt King County will find some boxes of ballots stuffed in a closet or some Dem operatives trunk to keep padding the Inslee numbers. What a corrupt county we live in.
 @jdoll88 But I didn't read your comments claiming that about Florida when Al Gore "lost".... er...."won".... er... "lost" there. So, you've hitched your wagon to a fading star and it's frustrating that said star is slowly going out, and that the gradual trend is more and more campaign losses. I get it... it's frustrating, isn't it.
i think republicans are finished in this country...
No doubt about it...probably has been for sometime. Similiar to nearly all large cities, a breeding ground for liberals.
Don't hold your breath CIA. 4 more years of Obama will be a very telling time as to what he is really all about. The GOP will make a comeback. As for Washington State...we are destined to be run by liberal whack jobs on a statewide basis. King County will make certain of that.
@jdoll88 Just wait until after the big earthquake. Any dems left in King county will die off while waiting for the government to rescue them and then we can go back to being a Red state...
 @jdoll88Â
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Reps just don't get it "demographics" is the key word and that is changing the political landscape in our country, and we "yes we", people of color don't see the rep party as a friend and until reps change their stance on social issues, it will continue to decline until it dissapears. So, keep on doing what you've been doing, but the only change you will get is a downtrend in voters' support.
 @jdoll88 Didn't the Confederate States of America claim they'd make a comeback also? Still working on that I see.Â
The following statement sums up the real McKenna, "We'll take it beyond this week if that's what it takes to make sure he's the next governor," McCray said. Add to this brown shirts in every county and where votes will be counted and you have a real intimidation factor. I don't think the public should have to fund his belief of his entitlement. No he won't go gracefully. First Rossi and then this strong arm. Where do the Republicans find these lab experiments gone wrong.
ABSOLUTELY!
 @smokey307 Spoken like a true bluebird, for the sake of being blue. You know, it's much more settling being a purple.......combo of red and blue.......as in an independent, devoid of being a blue OR red puppet.
 @Yadayada  @smokey307 Seattleites are sheeples. Hey, if all the other kids are doing it....
"....McKenna's campaign also has attorneys in every county that are prepared to deal with any issues that arise. "We'll take it beyond this week if that's what it takes to make sure he's the next governor," McCray said ...."
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That says it all right there - I am having visions of a count-recount-recount-recount happening again. The r's bring in their lawyers & refuse to concede, even when counts go against them. What will McKenna do after every ballot is counted, all the contested ballots have been resolved - and he's still not the winner? Go gracefully or not? I will bet it's the "or not" that we will see play out at that point. Everybody "lawyer up".Â
Interesting .... I just checked the King County Elections website for our family of four that submitted our ballets a week before the elections. The four ballots (for McKenna) were received but not yet counted. Wonder what is up with that ... ? And all the signatures were validated as authentic. Hmmmm ....
 @swag Interesting... I'd like to hear the follow up on this.
Before spouting yet another conspiracy theory. might want to actual ztay on top of the news from King County Elections. The ballot scanning equipment failed, and caused them to completely shut down counting until it could be repaired. There were nearly 1 million ballots left to count at that point - yours could very well have been in those yet to be counted.
I just checked Kink County Ballot Tracker and as of today (the 8th) my ballot hasn't been counted... Â That's one more for Inslee.
I don't think a candidate should ever concede. It should always be determined by the outcome of the total vote when the election is certified.
I voted for Rob. I wish him the best and pray for him. But I think it is now highly unlikely that he will win because it's been 2 days and Rob is still behind 50,000 votes. 5000 to 8000 votes behind, then I think we should say "too close to call" but not 50,000 votes, not 2 days later. It is very difficult to win in this situation. GOOD LUCK ROB!!!
In Washington State the minority population said "no reps" and that sealed the deal. McKenna is a nice guy and he would make a great democrat but he decided to join an extreme and dissapairing party.Â
@Socialjusticeforall I will vote Democratic Party line unless I have clear, cogent, and convincing evident evidence to the contrary. I consider the Republican Party to be the re-birth of the German Nazi party in America. If you're asking, I did vote for two Republicans; for Secretary of State and Lt. Governor. I know Kim Wyman to be a competent Auditor for Thurston County and I know personally that Brad Owen is corrupt. When I worked for the state, I ask him to do a personal appearance for us and his office told me he would if we comped him Mariners tickets for his family.
... dissapeering party? Â It's not like Jay is winning by 80% to 20%. Â Its 50/50 smart guy! Â There is no such thing as a "great democrat".
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@mej20434 Fewer and fewer people are still willing to admit that they are reps. anymore. Or even tbaggers. A number of them call themselves just independents. Or even something else. The more radical the remaining reps and the tbaggers become, the smaller the party will become. But they are now having a slightly more difficult time finding even more âmoderatesâ to kick out of the party. Although they are still trying and continuing to kick out the RINOs and etc. Good luck with that yâall. Keep it up and you will be a marginalized, regionalized minority party or worse. Much like the communist party, birchers, or even the neo nazi party. Oh thatâs right. I wonder where a lot of those neo cons, birchers, neo nazis, and even kkk are showing up nowadays. Not that they havenât shown up there in years past and all of that.
@Yadayada bwahahahaâ¦.. You obviously know nothing of what you are trying to post about or even what I posted. Obviously. Read my post again. I did not âdiss allâ â¦âindependent thinkersâ. I actually really respect truly independent thinkers. You obviously are not one of them. Obviously. I posted âFewer and fewer people are still willing to admit that they are reps. anymore. Or even tbaggers. A number of them call themselves just independents. Or even something else.â I.e. I said that a number of reps and tbaggers call themselves independents even though they obviously are not. And based on your reading, comprehension, and grammar skills, and general perceived lack of intelligence, I would now say that you are one of them. Or worse. yadayadaâ¦â¦ bwahahahaâ¦
 @flyskiwindsurf Another bluebird, for the sake of being blue. How dare you diss all of us independent thinkers. We are NOT displaced anyone, but choose is investigate track and voting records, in order to vote intelligently. Your comment is a diatribe of ignorance and immaturity.
@Socialjusticeforall
 I happen to know people around him personally. He nothing more than a Christian Righty that does not understand religion and politics do not mix. Remember the Jesus story. Jesus was a killed by a bunch of politician trying to get power. Please Christian stay out of politics. Jesus will still love you.
 @Socialjusticeforall So you would rather let a label such as Democrat or Republican decide your vote rather than his proposed policies?