Politics

Secretary of State Sam Reed says about 1.2 million ballots remain to be counted in Washington.

He says that's about half the expected total.

Reed told KING-TV more results due from counties Wednesday afternoon will likely show trends in the tight race for governor and other close races.

He says the outcome of the governor's race between Jay Inslee and Rob McKenna should be clear by Friday "unless it's a real nail-biter."

Washington state's race for governor remains too close to call, with hundreds of thousands of ballots left to count.

Early results Tuesday night showed Democrat Jay Inslee with a slight lead over Republican Rob McKenna. The two candidates have been competing in one of the most watched and most expensive gubernatorial races in the country, with the campaigns and outside political groups raising and spending some $40 million in the race.

Washington voters are narrowly approving same-sex marriage in the state, following the lead of voters in Maryland and Maine, where ballot measures on same-sex unions also are holding slim leads.

With about half of the expected vote counted Tuesday night, Referendum 74 was passing with 53 percent of the vote.

The referendum asked voters to approve or reject the state's new law legalizing same-sex marriage. That law was passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Chris Gregoire earlier this year, but it's been on hold pending the election's outcome.