McGinn's lead over Mallahan grows slightly

The Seattle mayor's race remains too tight to call today, with Mike McGinn leading Joe Mallahan by just 515 votes out of more than 130,000 counted.

McGinn's lead grew by 53 votes in a new count of about 26,000 votes released this afternoon by King County Elections. On Wednesday, he led by 462 votes.

McGinn, an attorney and former Sierra Club leader, led by 910 votes on Election Night over Mallahan, a cellphone executive who outspent him by more than 3 to 1.

At his campaign headquarters in the Eastlake neighborhood, Mallahan said the latest results "could have been better."

"We're still quite optimistic, but obviously it was sort of break-even today," he said.

McGinn was spending time with his family and unavailable for comment.

About 15 McGinn volunteers watched the latest results at a campaign office in Southeast Seattle, said Aaron Pickus, one of the McGinn volunteers.

"We edged up a bit. Just like everyone else we're waiting and watching for each day's update," Pickus said.

To close the gap of 515, Mallahan would have to get 50.31 percent of the estimated 84,000 ballots remaining to be counted, assuming the official projected turnout of 57 percent in Seattle holds true.

If the race remains this close, a recount looms.

State law requires a machine recount if the candidates are separated by fewer than 2,000 votes and one-half of 1 percent of the total votes cast. A manual recount is required if the difference is less than 150 votes and less than one-quarter of 1 percent.

More vote results will be released at 4:30 p.m. Friday.

Staff reporters Justin Mayo and Emily Heffter contributed to this report. Jim Brunner: 206-515-5628 or jbrunner@seattletimes.com