Judge John Bridges has just issued his ruling on the state Governor’s race… Christine Gregoire gets to keep her keys to the mansion – at least for now.

While Judge Bridges criticized the elections process and called for voter-initiated electoral reform, he dismissed charges of fraud and willful misconduct and found no evidence that any of the 1600+ votes he determined to be illegal went to Gregoire.

An appeal to the state Supreme Court is likely to be forthcoming, but this verdict definitely deals a blow to Dino Rossi’s quest to overturn or throw out results of the final hand re-count.

The P-I and Times have the details. Read all about ’em.