OLYMPIA — The charter-school initiative held a slight statewide lead Tuesday in what turned out to be one of the closest statewide races.

Initiative 1240 was passing in some of the most populous counties, including Clark, Pierce and Snohomish. It was leading narrowly in Spokane, but not so in King County, where it was trailing 51 to 49 percent.

Statewide, it was passing with about 51 percent of the vote.

King County accounts for about a third of the remaining votes statewide. An estimated 60 percent of the vote was counted Tuesday.

Charter supporters were optimistic the measure will pass.