Seattle Park District passing; see other primary vote counts

Quick Facts: 

• Seattle parks Proposition 1 ahead. If passed, property taxes would increase.
• Democrat Suzan DelBene, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, U.S. Rep. Adam Smith and U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott advance.
• Republicans Clint Didier and Dan Newhouse leading field in 4th District Congressional primary.
• Click here to see additional results from across the state.

The Seattle parks proposition was passing with 52 percent of the votes after the initial ballot tally Tuesday night.

There were 101,673 ballots in the initial count released about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday.

If approved, the proposition would mean $70 to $200 more a year for the average Seattle homeowner. But it's all variable because Proposition 1 would create a new independent taxing authority run by the Seattle City Council.

Councilmembers would decide how much to raise taxes, without the public’s input, to maintain parks and playgrounds.

Supporters said tax revenue, wiped out by the Tim Eyeman tax initiatives in the early 2000s, led to a $270 million backlog of maintenance for Seattle parks. They’ve said the only answer is to raise property taxes, which could lead to higher rates for renters, too.

Mayor Ed Murray said there's only so much general levy funding the city can collect, so creating a Seattle Park District would free up space for other issues.

But the proposition would basically clear the way for the city to ask voters to approve even more taxes in the future.

Initial Washington primary election results

Democrat Suzan DelBene easily advanced to the general election in the 1st District Congressional primary.

Republicans Pedro Celis and Robert J. Sutherland were leading other contenders for a place on the November ballot, but it was too close to call in early returns Tuesday.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen has advanced to the general election in the 5th District Congressional primary. Larsen moves to the November ballot along with Republican B.J. Guillot, who was leading other contenders for second place in Tuesday's primary.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Adam Smith has advanced to the general election in the 9th District Congressional primary. Smith advances to the general election along with Republican Doug Basler, who was finishing second after early returns from Tuesday's primary.

Republicans Clint Didier and Dan Newhouse were leading a crowded field of candidates in the open 4th District Congressional primary.

Didier, a former NFL star, and Newhouse, a Yakima Valley farmer, drew the most votes in early returns Tuesday evening. If the trend holds, it would be the first time in state history that two candidates of the same party advanced to the general election in a U.S. House race.

A dozen people — eight Republicans, two independents and two Democrats — were seeking to replace retiring Republican Rep. Doc Hastings.

Longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott has easily advanced to the general election in the 7th District Congressional primary.

McDermott will appear on the November ballot. It was too early to tell in early voting in Tuesday's primary who his opponent would be in the general election.

Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers easily advanced to the general election in the 5th District Congressional primary.

McMorris Rodgers, who has represented the large eastern Washington district since 2005, is the chair of the House Republican Conference. She's the fourth highest-ranking Republican in the chamber.

Democrat Joseph Pakootas was leading other contenders for second in Tuesday's primary race to advance to the November ballot. Pakootas is the Colville Tribal council chairman.

Republican U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert has advanced through the 8th District Congressional primary and will appear on the November ballot.

Reichert was winning the early vote in Tuesday's primary and advances to the general election. Democrat Jason Ritchie was leading other contenders for second place.

The 8th District represents parts of Pierce and King counties and east of the mountains, Chelan and Kittitas counties. Reichert has represented the district for a decade.

Information from The Associated Press is included in this report

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