11/14/2006

By CURT WOODWARD  / Associated Press

Republican Rep. Dave Reichert survived a strong challenge from Democratic newcomer Darcy Burner, winning a second term Monday amid a Democratic wave that swept his party out of power in the House.

Reichert retained his seat after new returns were posted Monday night from King County. His lead stood at 4,727 votes, or 51.1 percent to Burner's 48.9 percent. Overall, 208,225 votes had been counted in the race.

Burner had led Reichert in earlier King County returns, although an Associated Press analysis showed her margin there was likely not enough to overcome his lead in the Pierce County portion of the district, which sprawls across the suburbs east and southeast of Seattle.

In Monday's count, Reichert pulled slightly ahead of Burner in King County, putting the race out of reach. The vast majority of the voters in the district cast their ballots by mail.

It was the first political campaign for Burner, 35, a former Microsoft manager. Reichert, 56, a former King County sheriff, narrowly won his first congressional term in 2004 and immediately became a target for Democrats.

Reichert was in Washington, D.C., for the new term of Congress on Monday and could not immediately be reached for comment.

Burner's campaign refused to concede the race, saying it believed the Democrat could stay alive after some 20,000 absentee ballots dropped off at polling sites are counted.

Those ballots were under guard Monday because more voters than expected dropped their absentee ballots at polling sites, overstuffing the security bags meant to carry them to election headquarters.

King County's elections chief said the bags' chain of custody was clear, and the absentee ballots have their own security measures. But elections officials wanted to get clearance from the canvassing board on Tuesday before tallying the votes.

It was unclear how many of the ballots were from the state's 8th District, but the Burner campaign said heavy turnout from strongly Democratic areas could boost her fortunes.

"We will move from there when we see what the canvassing board has to say tomorrow," said Zach Silk, Burner's campaign manager.