12-31) 00:09 PST (AP) -- Nov. 2: Election Day. Three-term Democratic Attorney General Christine Gregoire finds herself in an unexpectedly tight race with Republican real estate agent Dino Rossi, a former state senator. Gregoire is up by 7,000 votes at the end of the night, with hundreds of thousands of absentee ballots yet to be counted. Nov. 9: As absentee ballots are tallied, Rossi closes the gap and then pulls ahead by 2,123 votes. Dec. 30: Secretary of State Sam Reed certifies the election, declaring Gregoire governor-elect. Jan. 12: Inauguration Day. Legislature scheduled to issue certificates of election to new...