Primary Election, Did The Voters Show?

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — What happens when you have an open primary election and less than half of the voters show up?

You end up with results in a hotly contested governor's race that everyone wants to dissect for clues about what will happen come November and the expected larger turnout.

With about a million votes counted so far, Democratic former U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee edged Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna, 47 to 43 percent, in Tuesday's primary.

The sole purpose of the "top two" primary is to winnow down the candidates, regardless of party. McKenna and Inslee easily advanced to the general ballot.

While the public isn't paying attention yet, Tuesday's results are the latest rough poll in what is expected to be one of the nation's most competitive governor's races.