Early returns Tuesday showed Bellevue Mayor Claudia Balducci defeating 20-year incumbent Jane Hague by a wide margin for King County Council District 6.
Balducci leads 59 percent to 41 percent, winning 15,610 votes compared to Hague's 10,663.
Political insiders said Hague, who supporters nicknamed "the Eastside Advocate," faced her toughest re-election campaign in recent years.
Balducci, who also serves on the Sound Transit Board and formerly worked as director of the King County Jail, campaigned on a need for change and stronger leadership in the district.
"It was a long race; we talked to a lot of voters and I'm glad that they appeared to agree it's time for new leadership for the Eastside," Balducci said Tuesday night in a statement to KING 5.
While the King County Council seat is non-partisan, the race took on a partisan tone given the changing demographics on the Eastside.
"We have a Republican representative and we're no longer a Republican district," Balducci earlier told KING 5.
The King County Republican Party campaigned for Hague by noting the implications of losing the seat, which would strengthen the Democratic majority on the council.
"Dow Constantine would like to have a veto proof majority on King County Council. We need to make sure that the executive side and the legislative continue to have a good dialogue," said Hague. "I don't consider that partisan. I think it's important to have that dialogue within policy. We can't have a rubber stamp."
Bellevue City Council Position 5
In the race to fill the seat left open by Mayor Claudia Balducci, Vandana Slatter, a biotech professional, was leading Michelle Hillhorst, Chair of the Bellevue Planning Commission, 51% to 49%.
This is Slatter's second run at council.
Bellevue City Council Position 3
Incumbent John Chelminiak was also leading over challenger and former Councilmember Don Davidson 51% to 49%.
This will make Chelminiak's fourth term. Davidson served on the council since the mid-1980s, but lost his bid for re-election in the 2013 primary.
Bellevue City Council Position 7
Land use attorney Jennifer Robertson had an overwhelming lead over cycling and transit advocate Lyndon Heywood 81% to 18%.
