(Image taken this morning from the bus, whose driver honked like crazy at the “Mass Transit Now” sign-wavers at MLK and Rainier but just flashed her lights at these Democrats… presumably because bus drivers are supposed to be nonpartisan.)

Predictions in contested/close races are below the jump, in deference to the superstitious.

President: Obama/Biden, duh. Although, having just watched the movie Recount, I’m mighty paranoid.

Governor: Gregoire, by a slim margin (but larger than her 133-vote win last time). Obama’s coattails are going to help Democrats in Washington, particularly those near the top of the ballot.

State Initiative 985: Pass, by a hair. The “no” campaign hasn’t been mobilized enough to get out their message about this complicated, multi-subject Eyman transportation initiative.

State Initiative 1000: Pass. Oregon was the trailblazer on death with dignity, and it’s worked well there. The alarmists haven’t made a strong case that allowing assisted suicide here will result in abuse.

State Initiative 1029: Honestly, I haven’t got a clue how this one will go, but I’m going to say Pass, because the ballot title—“Concerns long-term care services for the elderly and persons with disabilities”—sounds innocuous and doesn’t mention the cost.

Sound Transit, Proposition 1, Mass Transit Expansion: OK, here’s the one where I actually am superstitious. Still, in the interest of being comprehensive, I’m going to say mass transit Passes, narrowly. Now I’m knocking wood until my fingers bleed.

City of Seattle, Proposition 1, Pike Place Market Levy: Pass. People love Pike Place Market—enough to vote for a new tax in bad economic times.

City of Seattle, Proposition 2, Parks Levy: Fail. Supporters of this levy didn’t make the case that we can’t have one year when we’re not spending money on parks Plus, there’s a perception that this levy was thrown together too quickly, and includes too little actual parks acquisition, to make it worth $173 million.

Attorney General: Rob McKenna. Coattails only extend so far, and McKenna’s perceived as nonpartisan and popular as hell.

Commissioner of Public Lands: Doug Sutherland. Much as environmental groups have worked to make this a high-profile race, Democrat Peter Goldmark is just too far down this crowded ballot (and, as the incumbent, Sutherland has some name recognition

Superintendent of Public Instruction: Terry Bergeson. Bergeson, a champion of the high-stakes WASL, perennially beats back challengers that hate the WASL but don’t offer a clear alternative vision. My guess is she’ll do it again against Randy Dorn.

State Senator, Legislative District 11: Margarita Prentice. Prentice is well-known and well-funded; her opponent Juan Martinez never got the momentum he needed to topple the powerful incumbent.

State Representative, Legislative District 36, Position 1: Reuven Carlyle. Carlyle’s opponent John Burbank is well-known and respected in the district, but Carlyle’s energetic campaigning—plus his incessant prime-time cable advertising—will put him narrowly over the top.

State Representative, Legislative District 46, Position 1: Scott White. White may still be under fire from opponent Gerry Pollet for doing election work on government time as an employee of the county, but he’s going to win by a convincing margin.

King County Charter Amendment 1, Elected Elections Director: Pass. Even if it doesn’t solve the problem it’s meant to solve, people like the idea of more democracy.

King County Charter Amendment 2, Prohibiting Discrimination: Pass. This is a simple rule change bringing the charter in line with county policy.

King County Charter Amendment 3, Regional Committees: Pass. Another common-sense measure whose ballot title doesn’t explain what it would do, a factor that works in its favor.

King County Charter Amendment 4, Additional Qualifications for Elected Officials: Pass. Additional qualifications, like electing the elections director, sounds like more democracy, which voters generally support.

King County Charter Amendment 5, Establishing Forecast Council and Office of Economic and Financial Analysis: Pass.

King County Charter Amendment 6, Budget Deadlines: Pass. Who doesn’t like budget deadlines?

King County Charter Amendment 7: Charter Amendment by Citizen Initiative: Fail—but only if enough people read the voter guide and realize that this actually raises the threshold to amend the county’s constitution by initiative (something we think is a good idea, but that voters probably won’t like.

King County Charter Amendment 8: Nonpartisan Elections: Pass. Voters consistently say they want less “partisanship.”