It’s the scenario that Ed Murray predicted could produce the ugliest city election Seattle’s ever seen: Murray took 30 percent of the vote after the first round of ballots were counted this evening. Mayor Mike McGinn came in second with 27 percent.

Those figures give both candidates a comfortable lead over third place finisher Peter Steinbrueck after this evening’s ballot count, which did not include ballots cast Monday and today. Election officials expected this evening’s count to comprise between 60 and 65 percent of the total primary vote.

The McGinn campaign worked to lower expectations about today’s ballot count, suggesting that the incumbent could come in third but eventually take second or first after all the ballots were counted.