While the the mayoral race in in the Aug. 18 primary remains incredibly close between the top three candidates, one thing is now certain: Greg Nickels will not be Seattle's next mayor.

The two-term incumbent, who remained in third place after three days of ballot counting, conceded Friday morning, sending Joe Mallahan and Mike McGinn to November's general election.

"At some point the math gets too difficult," said McGinn, a former Sierra Club chair and president of the Greenwood Community Council. "All the elected candidates are entitled to decide when it has been enough."

McGinn said, without Nickels, the general election becomes a chance for the candidates to debate the tough choices ahead in Seattle's future and not concentrate on Nickels' record.

At a press conference Friday morning to announce his bowing out of the race, Nickels said he had called both McGinn and Mallahan to congratulate their win in the primary.

"One of them will be Seattle's next mayor and I wish them both well," Nickels said, adding he would work with the winner to ensure a smooth transition.

Nickels also said he is proud of the work he has done for the city during his eight-year tenure as mayor, touting his victories with creating more open space, building community service centers, libraries and light rail.

"Serving as mayor of his fine city has been the greatest honor or my public life," he said.

An update from King County Elections released around 4:18 p.m., Aug. 21 showed Nickels trailing third in the race for Seattle mayor with 25.42 percent of the votes.

McGinn retook the lead against Mallahan, a vice president at T-Mobile, during the Aug. 21 count. McGinn rose to 27.60 percent, while Mallahan dropped to 27.01 percent.

Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin in a statement released today thanked Nickels for his years of service to the city.

"Mayor Nickels has dedicated his life to public service, and has worked hard to make Seattle a better place," said Conlin. "His leadership has resulted in the opening of our first light rail line and the commitment to the next phase of light rail expansion. "

Conlin also credited Nickels' administration for creating more bike trails, better sidewalks, safer communities, a greener city that is nationally recognized, and progress on creating an urban waterfront and a transportation system.

"This is a challenging time for Seattle, but Mayor Nickels will leave Seattle in a strong financial condition and with a budget that reflects his priorities - and the priorities of the people of Seattle - a commitment to public safety and human services," said Conlin. "With the formal budget process soon to begin, we will work with the mayor to ensure that this final budget of his second term keeps us on the road to economic recovery."

In the race for KIng County Executive, former TV reporter Susan Hutchison is leading King County Council Chair Dow Constantine 33.27 percent to 26.72 percent.

This is a top-two primary, meaning only the top two candidates for a position move on the the general election in November.

Primary election results will be unofficial until election certification on Sept. 2, according to King County Elections.

RESULTS:

City of Seattle Mayor:

Mike McGinn 27.60 percent
Joe Mallahan 27.01 percent
Greg Nickels (conceded) 25.42 percent
James Donaldson 8.15 percent
Jan Drago 7.23 percent
Elizabeth Campbell 2.47 percent
Kwame Wyking Garrett 1.01 percent
Norman Zadok Sigler 0.87 percent
Write-in 0.24 percent

City of Seattle Council Position No. 4:

Sally Bagshaw 51.23 percent
David Bloom 18.25 percent
Dorsol Plants 14.19 percent
Thomas Tobin 8.34 percent
Brian Carver 7.71 percent
Write-in 0.28 percent

City of Seattle Council Position No. 6:

Marty Kaplan 14.24 percent
Nick Licata 55.74 percent
Jessie Israel 29.69 percent
Write-in 0.32 percent

City of Seattle Council Position No. 8:

Mike O'Brien 34.52 percent
Rusty Williams 4.56 percent
Bobby Forch 12.44 percent
David Miller 11.89 percent
Jordan Royer 15.58 percent
Robert Rosencrantz 20.74 percent
Write-in 0.27 percent

City of Seattle Referendum No. 1 ("Bag Tax"):

Approved 46.66 percent
Rejected 53.34 percent

King County Executive:

Larry Phillips 12.10 percent
Fred Jarrett 12.21 percent
Stan Lippmann 1.08 percent
Alan Lobdell 2.42 percent
Susan Hutchison 33.27 percent
Dow Constantine 26.72 percent
Ross Hunter 10.94 percent
Goodspaceguy 1.14 percent
Write-in 0.13 percent

Port of Seattle Commissioner Position No. 3:

Rob Holland 55.66 percent
David Doud 30.95 percent
Al Yuen 14.05 percent
Write-in 0.34 percent

Port of Seattle Commissioner Position No. 4:

Juan Paraiso 8.36 percent
Max Vekich 28.02 percent
Tom Albro 41.84 percent
Robert Walker 21.43 percent
Write-in 0.34 percent

Seattle School District No. 1 Director District No. 5:

Joanna Cullen 9.68 percent
Andre Helmstetter 11.92 percent
Mary E. Bass 35.72 percent
Kay Smith-Blum 42.12 percent
Write-in 0.55 percent

Seattle School District No. 1 Director District No. 7:

Wilson Chin 40.42 percent
Betty Patu 47.55 percent
Charlie Mas 11.46 percent
Write-in 0.57 percent

Results as of 4:18 p.m. on Aug. 21.