Challenger gains on justice

SEATTLE – Bainbridge Island attorney Charlie Wiggins is cutting into the slim lead held by Justice Richard Sanders as Sanders tries to retain his seat on the Washington state Supreme Court.

In updated vote totals Thursday evening, Sanders led 50.6 percent to 49.4 percent. That was a slight improvement for Wiggins, who trailed by 2 percentage points to start the day.

Hundreds of thousands of ballots remain to be counted from Tuesday’s election. A significant portion are in populous King County, where Wiggins is winning handily.

Sanders is vying for a fourth term.