Seattle will elect a woman as mayor in 2017 for the first time in 91 years, with voters putting four women ahead in a crowded primary election in Tuesday night’s returns.Seattle last elected a woman as chief executive in 1926. Bertha Knight Landes was the first woman to lead a major U.S. city, occupying the mayor’s office for two years after having served as president of the City Council. She also was the last woman to reach a general election for Seattle mayor.SeattleTimes Jenny Durkan a Hillary Clinton supporter held a commanding lead over the 21-candidate field with 31.6 percent, while urban planner Cary Moon and educator and attorney Nikkita Oliver were neck and neck with 15.6 percent and 13.9 percent, respectively, in the nonpartisan race to succeed outgoing Mayor Ed Murray.

Urban planner Cary Moon has maintained and slightly expanded her lead over lawyer/educator Nikkita Oliver on Wednesday in the contest to see who takes on the frontrunner, ex-U.S. Attorney General Jenny Durkan, in the race to become Seattle's next mayor.Moon is ahead with 15.73 percent of the vote (16,168 votes) to 13.81 percent (14,190 votes) for Oliver. Durkan has a two-to-one lead over Moon with 31.52 percent, or 32,376 votes. Only the top two contenders advance to November's general election.PI