Socialist candidate Sawant takes 41-vote lead over Conlin for City Council



SEATTLE -- Socialist candidate Kshama Sawant took a lead over City Councilman Richard Conlin for the first time – albeit, by a razor-thin 41 votes --  in the race for City Council Position No. 2, the latest election returns showed Tuesday.

As of the latest vote count at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Savant had 79,751 votes to Conlin’s 79,710.

Conlin's lead continues to decrease with late counting.

It is unknown how many ballots are left to be counted, but late ballots often trend left, analysts say.

Sawant would be the first socialist candidate elected to the  City Council in its history.

Another vote count will be released at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.