MCGINN WINS

McGinn celebrates at campaign headquarters (Photo: Jeff Romeo special to CHS)

It's over. Mike McGinn is Seattle's new mayor. In the latest batch of nearly 20,000 ballots released today, McGinn took 56.5% of the count giving the candidate an insurmountable lead over Joe Mallahan. City Council president Richard Conlin this afternoon sent out an e-mail congratulating McGinn. The Mallahan camp has called a press conference this evening. Update: The Mallahan camp concedes.

Today's update:

• Mike McGinn          96,514 (+11,098), 50.88%
• Joe Mallahan         91,575, (+8,543), 48.28%

 95% of votes based on King County's expected turnout are now tallied.

McGinn's campaign was grassroots and 'open' format -- and very Capitol Hill. This news site spoke with him many times and received near-daily updates from his all-volunteer campaign team from the very first moments of the race.

Here is CHS coverage of McGinn's announcement of his candidacy at Piecora's from back in March. McGinn also celebrated his victory in the primary and last week's election night on the Hill. The candidate also received the CHS endorsement voted on by members of this site.

The McGinn Campaign from David Albright on Vimeo.

The Mallahan camp, meanwhile, ran a more traditional campaign and used tools like Twitter to lob taunts and criticism at their opponent.

McGinn will inherit a city facing budget cuts as departments scramble to cover a $70 million budget gap due to falling tax revenues caused by the economic slowdown.