KING COUNTY, Wash. — Longtime incumbent Kathy Lambert has lost to challenger Sarah Perry in the race for King County Council District 3.
Perry has captured 56% of the vote, and Lambert has 44% as of Nov. 4.
District 3 covers northeast King County, including Sammamish, Issaquah, North Bend and Duvall.
Lambert has served on the King County Council for 20 years. She said she is dedicated to "both law enforcement and improving community relationships."
Perry explicitly calls herself "not a career politician." She said that after 20 years of the same representation in District 3, it's time for new leadership.
Perry said she will "collaborate for meaningful progress on homelessness, transit and the environment" and will "remove barriers for recovering small businesses, and help displaced workers in a changing economy."
Lambert's political career had been mostly quiet up until recently when a controversial campaign mailer sent to her constituents in October was considered racist by some and triggered an avalanche of backlash for the longtime politician.
The mailer depicted her political opponent Perry as a "socialist puppet" controlled by "Seattle socialist leader" King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay.
Lambert at first defended the flyers saying they were designed to highlight the difference between her and her opponent. But Zahilay argued others on the county council besides him had endorsed Perry and believed his photo was included because of his race.
Both Zahilay and Perry also said they are not socialists.
Lambert eventually issued a formal apology for the flyers after she began losing endorsements. The King County Council voted to remove Lambert from all of her leadership roles within the council following the controversy.
KING 5 Political Analyst Ron Sims said the campaign mailer had, "without a doubt," an impact on the race. Lambert, he said, is in a community of well-educated, young people and "they looked and said no."
Four other King County Council seats are on the ballot this election in Districts 1, 5, 7 and 9.
In the District 1 race, Rob Dembowski was re-elected after receiving 84% of the vote after initial returns were released Nov. 2. Sally Caverzan trails with 16% of the vote.
For District 5, Incumbent Dave Upthegrove was re-elected with 68% of the vote after initial returns were released Nov. 2. Challenger Shukri Olow trails with 32% of the vote.
In District 7, Incumbent Pete von Reichbauer was re-elected with 69% of the vote after initial returns were released Nov. 2. Dominique Torgerson trails with 31%.
For District 9, Reagan Dunn was re-elected with 64% of the vote after initial returns were released Nov. 2. Kim-Khanh Van trails with 36%.