Nikkita Oliver Closer To Recount In Latest Ballot Count

SEATTLE, WA - Mayoral candidate Nikkita Oliver has closed the gap slightly between herself and second-place primary finisher Cary Moon. The difference between the two candidates stands at about 1,362 votes and 0.74 percentage points, which is close to what the threshold for a recount. According to the state Secretary of State, recounts happen when two candidates are closer than 0.50 percentage points and 2,000 votes.

Jenny Durkan still holds a commanding lead of about 19,000 votes over Moon. Only the top two vote-getters will proceed to the general election. Here's where the results of the Seattle mayoral primary stand as of Tuesday:

1. Jenny Durkan - 27.96%, 51,366 votes
2. Cary Moon - 17.63%, 32,384 votes
3. Nikkita Oliver - 16.89%, 31,022 votes
4. Jessyn Farrell 12.56%, 23,069 votes

There are not enough votes left for Oliver to overtake Moon, and so a recount remains her last chance at entering the general election. Several local news outlets - KING 5 and the Seattle Times - have called the race for Moon, but Oliver has not conceded.

On Friday, Oliver announced that she would use her supporters to mount a ballot-chasing campaign - tracking down uncounted or disqualified ballots to ensure all her votes are in. Both Moon and Durkan supported Oliver's ballot-chasing, and Moon has not yet claimed victory in the primary.

There was a recount in a 2003 Seattle City Council primary race, which ultimately changed the vote total by minus one vote (former Councilwoman Jean Godden eventually won that race). In 2015, there was a recount in the race between Councilwoman Lisa Herbold and challenger Shannon Braddock, but the recount did not change the outcome.

There hasn't been a recount in Seattle mayoral election - primary or general - since at least 2001, according to King County.

Image via Patch.com/Neal McNamara