FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – After two months of waiting for the results of three vote tallies, the Washington Credit Union League is celebrating its gubernatorial candidate of choice, Christine Gregoire (D), being declared the state's governor-elect, ending the closest race in the state's history. Gregoire won a statewide hand recount by only 129 votes out of more than 2.8 million cast. Her Republican opponent, Dino Rossi, had won both of the earlier counts – the initial tally following the election and a statewide machine recount. Rossi is a real estate agent and state senator. According to the Washington Credit Union League, Gregoire and Rossi each spent about $6 million on their respective campaigns, a new state record. The League and several CUs contributed the maximum allowable gift to Gregoire's campaign. Gregoire's election produced a record breaking year for the League's PAC – contributions exceeded $90,000 in 81 races with 96% success. A three-term state attorney general, the League said Gregoire was regarded as "the anointed successor" to Democrat Gov. Gary Locke. League President/CEO John Annaloro said Gregoire "has had a long standing relationship with the Washington League. She cares about consumers and understands that credit unions are consumers' best friend. And she made her position on credit unions crystal clear. She is opposed to any efforts to change our existing tax-exempt status." In Gregoire's effort to protect consumers' privacy and combat identity theft as state Attorney General she established the Consumer Privacy Workgroup with the League's Stacey Augustine, SVP of Policy & Public Advocacy, who chaired the Best Practices Subcommittee.