Seattle may be on the verge of getting an openly gay mayor. In the city’s primary on Tuesday, openly gay state Senator Ed Murray emerged the biggest vote-getter in the five-person field, with more than 30% of the vote. Incumbent Mike McGinn came in second with 27% of the vote. Murray and McGinn will face off in the November election.
“One thing is clear from today’s results, the people of Seattle want new leadership,” Murray announced to supporters at his victory celebration. Like Murray, McGinn is considered a progressive, but his leadership style has rubbed some locals the wrong way. The Seattle Times has endorsed Murray because of “his smooth political skills and deal-making bent.”
Murray has been a state legislator for 18 years and is the author of the state’s law legalizing marriage equality. The law was approved by voters in a referendum last November. Murray made that success the subject of his first mayoral campaign ad.
Murray will have more cause to celebrate this weekend. He plans to marry his partner of 21 years, Michael Shiosaki on Saturday.
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Photo credit: Washington State Senate Democrats