State Rep. Jeannie Darneille is cruising to victory over trial lawyer Jack Connelly in the race pitting two Democrats for the open 27th District senate seat representing Tacoma.
As of 8:15 p.m., Darneille was holding a 16-point lead over Connelly, the Pierce County Auditor’s office reported.
The early results mirrored Darneille’s strong showing in the two-candidate primary in August, when Darneille also bested Connelly by 16 points.
Connelly had poured in nearly $1 million of his own money into the campaign, smashing a state record for self-financing in a legislative contest.
His money largely paid for ads attacking Darneille’s voting record during her six terms in the Legislature.
Darneille countered her stance on key social issues were more in line with the 27th District’s liberal-leaning voters. She supports same sex marriage and abortion; Connelly opposes both.
Darneille is on her way to replacing Democratic Sen. Debbie Regala, who is retiring.
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