We've got updates! With approximately 70% of the ballots counted, as expected, progressive candidates in the Seattle City Council races are holding steady or slightly increasing their leads.

But before we get to the new results, Council Member Teresa Mosqueda would like to "correct the false narrative put out there by the mayor’s initial comments" regarding the results of last night's primary election.

In a dig at the current council, Mayor Jenny Durkan told Crosscut that she couldn't think of an election "where no incumbent was over 50 percent," and predicted a tough road ahead for incumbents.

Mosqueda is calling bullshit.

"[Durkan's] analysis misses the fact that we had a record number of people running, and this was the first time that non-traditional candidates could access Democracy Vouchers in district races," Mosqueda said. "Obviously that spread is going to pull those numbers down."

"This narrative is being used as a weapon against the council, a repudiation of existing incumbents," Mosqueda added. "But the numbers we saw last night should be seen as validation of the fact that people want to get in the race, and that in many cases want to be part of the Democracy Voucher system despite the pressure" from corporate PACs and "astroturf" movements, such as Moms for Seattle.

"And frankly, these incumbents did very well," Mosqueda said, pointing to Council Member Lisa Herbold, who nearly cracked 50% in the initial ballot drop.

"Furthermore," Mosqueda continued, "We know the later ballots will definitely skew more progressive, so I’m excited to see those numbers as they come out."

So there you have it. And, if only to prove a few of Mosqueda's points, let's return to the horserace.

In District 1, incumbent Seattle City Council Member Lisa Herbold increased her lead over attorney Phil Tavel by one point. She's now leading 48.6% to 33.6%.

Tammy Morales extended her lead over CASE-backed Mark Solomon in District 2 and now leads 47% to 24%. At this point, I will bet the Mayor $5 that Morales, who isn't an incumbent but who may as well be, and Herbold will get over 50% when all the ballots are counted.

In District 3, which, let's face it, is the best district, incumbent Kshama Sawant added a point to her total and now has 34%. Chamber-backed challenger Egan Orion lost a very little bit and remains at 23%. In a text message, Seattle School Board member Zachary Dewolf, who maintains 12% of the vote, said by way of a goodbye, "Young people watch us in these moments, we need to be good role models. When we fall short or don't win, we gotta get right back up and keep doing good work." He pledged to continue to do some great work as a director of the Seattle Public Schools.

Socialist and apparent cigar aficionado Shaun Scott now sits at 20%, well behind Alex Pedersen, who lost nearly two points and sits at 43.7% in District 4.

In District 5, incumbent Debora Juarez gained a point while Seattle Times-endorsed / Safe Seattle candidate Ann Davison Sattler stayed at 27.8% of the vote.

Stranger-endorsed Dan Strauss gained a couple points, and is now at 32% to former Seattle City Council Member Heidi Wills's 22%.

And in District 7, assistant city attorney Andrew Lewis is now beating reformist cop Jim Pugel 30% to 26%.