Constantine wins race for King County executive

SEATTLE – County Council Chairman Dow Constantine has defeated former TV news anchor Susan Hutchison in the race for King County Executive.

With 39 percent of the expected vote counted in Tuesday’s election, Constantine led Hutchison with roughly 57 percent to her 43 percent – a gap of more than 34,000 votes out of 244,000 counted.

Although voters in the largely Democratic county made the position nonpartisan last year, Constantine is a veteran Democratic politician, having served in the state Legislature and the County Council.

Hutchison – who used to anchor a local TV newscast – had strong ties to Republican politicians and some conservative causes.