Washington State Election Update and Results Overview

Posted on

Brad Boswell

Contract Lobbyist

Boswell Consulting

While many issues were decided on election night, there are several races in Washington State that are still too close to call (as of the morning of November 9). The following outline provides the current status of Washington State election results.

There are roughly 4.26 million voters in Washington State. Based on conversations with the Secretary of State’s Office, it now appears General Election turnout may reach 80%. In total, 2.03 million votes have been counted at the conclusion of Election Day, and as many as 800,000 appear to still be outstanding. As a side note, campaign spending reached record levels this cycle on all sides.

Votes are continuing to come in and most counties will post updated results late in the afternoon. All results can be easily viewed on the Secretary of State’s website at www.results.vote.wa.gov.

Federal Offices

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (Democrat) easily won re-election as did all of the existing congressional members, including:

  • Derek Kilmer (D)
  • Rick Larsen (D)
  • Jaime Buetler (D)
  • Denny Heck (D)
  • Adam Smith (D)
  • Dan Newhouse (R)
  • Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R)
  • Dave Reichert (R)

The State’s only open congressional district –downtown Seattle – has former State Senator Pramila Jayapal (D) receiving 57.1% of the vote over State Representative Brady Walkinshaw (D) 42.3%.

Statewide Offices

  • Governor Jay Inslee (D) appears to have defeated Bill Bryant (R). He now leads 56.38% vs. Bill Bryant’s 43.62%.
  • Sen. Cyrus Habib (D) received 55.91% of the vote and will be our next Lt. Governor, prevailing over Marty McClendon (R) at 44.09%.
  • At 58.65%, Benton County Treasurer Duane Davidson (R) currently holds a lead over financial consultant Michael Waite, who garnered 41.35%.
  • Incumbent Secretary of State Kim Wyman (R) appears to have survived a barrage of misleading negative attacks and has prevailed over Tina Podlodowski (D). Wyman leads by 53.06% to 46.94%.
  • Former State Representative Chris Reykdal appears to have defeated Erin Jones by 51.14% to 48.86%, winning the Superintendent of Public Instruction office.
  • Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy (D) has defeated State Senator Mark Miloscia (R) for Auditor by a 54.08% to 45.92% margin. Senator Miloscia (R) will return to the State Senate.

State Senate

The Senate is currently controlled by a 26-23 margin by the Majority Coalition Caucus (MCC). The MCC consists of 25 Republicans and one Democrat. In 2016 there were five toss up seats that were bitterly contested. Over $10 million was spent on the five toss-up seats. Democrats needed to prevail in three of five of these races to regain the majority. Right now, control of the State Senate appears to have narrowly remained with the MCC, which will now hold a 25 to 24 majority. Here’s a look at the General Election numbers for the four toss up seats:

  • 5th LD (Issaquah): Senator Mark Mullet (D) 53.11% holds a substantial lead over challenger Representative Chad Magendanz (R) 46.89%. We expect he will win this race.
  •  10th LD (Island County): Senator Barbara Bailey (R) has defeated Angie Homola 54.89% to 45.11%.
  • 17th LD (Woodway/SW WA): Representative Lynda Wilson (R) appears to have defeated former Representative Tim Probst (D) by a 54.06% to 45.94% margin. We expect Representative Wilson will maintain this lead.
  • 28th LD (University Place): Senator Steve O’Ban (R) 52.33% has defeated challenger Marisa Peloquin (D) 47.67%.
  • 41st LD (Mercer Island): Senator Steve Litzow (R) ran a tireless race for re-election. In the end he was not able to overcome the incredible barrage of negative campaigning. Lisa Wellman (D) appears to have won this race at 54.17%.

One additional note: Senator Pam Roach (R) has lost her race for the Pierce County Council, and thus will be returning to the State Senate.

House of Representatives

The House of Representatives is currently controlled by a 50-48 margin by Democrats. On election night, there were 11 toss up seats going into the final days of the General Election. Republicans held seven of those seats and Democrats held four. If the elections were finalized based on today’s results, Democrats would control the House by a 52-46 margin, but many races are still too close to call. Here’s a snapshot of the key races:

  • Open 5th LD: Paul Graves (R) 50.6% vs. Darcy Burner (D) with 49.4%. Only 539 votes separate the two candidates. This race may well go to a recount.
     
  • 5th LD: Representative Jay Ronde (R) 49.72% currently trails challenger Jason Ritchie (D) 50.28%. Only 249 votes separate the two. This race is expected to narrow further in the coming days, and may well go to a recount.
     
  • Open 17 LD: Vicki Craft (R) 50.55% vs. Sam Kim (D) 4.45%. Only 481 votes separate the two candidates.
     
  • Open 19th: Teresa Purcell (D) 50.44% is leading Jim Walsh (R) 49.56 (D) in this seat that is currently held by the Democrats. Only 320 votes separate the two. This race will likely go to a recount.
     
  • 26th LD: Representative Jesse Young (R) 54.7% vs. challenger Larry Seaquist (D) 45.3%.
     
  • 28th LD: Representative Kristine Kilduff (D) 55% vs. challenger Paul Wagemann (R) 45%.
     
  • 30th LD: Challenger Mike Pellicciotti (D) 55.23% appears to have defeated Representative Linda Kochmar (R) 44.77%.
     
  • 30th LD: Challenger Kristine Reeves (D) 52.09% appears to have defeated Representative Terri Hickel (R) 47.91%. This race is only separated by 1,226 votes and may well go into a recount.
     
  • Open 31st: Phil Fortunato (R) 56.96% vs. Lane Walthers (D) 43.04%.
     
  • 44th LD: Representative Mark Harmsworth (R) 52.73% vs. challenger Katrina Ondracek (D) 42.27%.
     
  • Open 44th LD: Former Representative John Lovick (D) 53.1%. vs. Janice Huxford (R) 53.1%.

Statewide Ballot Measures

  • I-732 – This initiative proposed to establish a significant tax on carbon related energy sources in Washington State. If enacted, it would have resulted in significant cost increases in motor vehicle fuel, aviation fuel, natural gas and electricity. This measure is failing by a 58.46% to 41.54% margin, however, we do not expect this to be the end of the carbon pricing conversation.
  • I-1433 – This measure will raise the minimum wage from $9.47 per hour to $13.50 over the next four years. Not surprisingly, this measure has passed by a 59.5% to 40.5% margin.
     
  • I-1464 – This measure, presently failing by a 52.54% to 47.46% margin, was brought forth by a group of Washington D.C. interests who combined forces with a few wealthy local individuals. The proposal would have establish a public financing of campaigns mechanism, significantly prohibited lobbyists and government relations employees of associations from advising their clients, and severely restricted business interests from contributing to campaigns if they in any way are considered public contractors.