Thursday, November 8
We are now two days beyond the election and ballot counting continues. Voter turnout continues to creep up as additional ballots are processed and is looking like it will very likely exceed 70%—a truly unprecedented figure for a non-presidential election year.
While most races are now considered decided, at least 6 remain in the House and 3 in the Senate that are still too close to call. If these slim margins maintain or tighten further, it is likely that we will be seeing a few recounts. Two races have flipped since yesterday’s update—those of incumbents and it is entirely possible that more could follow as there are still just under half a million ballots to be counted.
All of the Washington State Congressional races have been declared. Democrats now hold a 225 to 200 seat majority over Republicans in the House with 10 seats still undecided. In the Senate, Democrats have picked up one more seat making the split 46-51 in favor of Republicans. Three seats remain undeclared.
Here are the updated numbers on key races as of 6:00 p.m. Thursday evening. The highlighted districts indicate those that are still too-close-to-call.
WA State Senate – Key Races
6th District (Spokane)
Rep. Jeff Holy (R) has defeated Democratic challenger Jessa Lewis (D) in traditionally Republican District.
- Holy: 54.96% ✔
- Lewis: 45.04%
26th District (Port Orchard and parts of the Kitsap Peninsula)
Emily Randall (D) is maintaining her lead on Marty McClendon (R) by a tight 484 votes.
- Randall: 50.45%
- McClendon: 49.55%
30th District (Federal Way)
Challenger Claire Wilson (D) will take the seat of Republican Senator Mark Miloscia in this lean-Democrat district.
- Wilson: 53.84% ✔
- Milsocia: 46.16%
32nd District (North Seattle)
Democrat Jesse Solomon had a sweeping victory over Sen. Maralyn Chase (D).
- Solomon: 69.25% ✔
- Chase: 30.75%
34th District (Vashon Island/West Seattle/Burien)
Joe Nguyen (D), who beat Shannon Braddock (D) by a substantial margin, will replace senate Majority Leader Sharon Nelson’s seat.
- Nguyen: 57.95% ✔
- Braddock: 42.05%
35th District (Shelton)
Sen. Tim Sheldon has defeated Irene Bowling (D). He will continue to caucus with the MCC.
- Sheldon: 52.3%
- Bowling: 47.7%
42nd District (East Whatcom County)
Incumbent Republican Senator Doug Ericksen is currently ahead by only 208 votes against democratic challenger Pinky Vargas.
- Ericksen: 50.15%
- Vargas: 49.85%
47th District (Kent/Auburn)
Sen. Joe Fain (R) is slightly ahead in this continually narrowing race against Mona Das (D). Only 206 votes separate the two.
- Das: 50.21%
- Fain: 49.79%
WA State House of Representatives — Key Races
5th District Pos. 1 (Sammamish)
Bill Ramos (R) will fill the seat created by Rep. Jay Rodne’s departure after defeating Chad Magendanz (R).
- Ramos: 51.87% ✔
- Magendanz: 48.13%
5th District Pos. 2 (Sammamish)
Democratic challenger Lisa Callan will replace incumbent Rep. Paul Graves (R).
- Callan: 52.62% ✔
- Graves: 47.38%
6th District Pos. 2 Open (Spokane)
Jenny Graham (R) continues to hold her slim lead by just 409 votes over Dave Wilson (D) in this open seat.
- Graham: 50.4%
- Wilson: 49.6%
10th District Pos. 1 (Mt. Vernon)
Rep. Norma Smith (R) has defeated Scott McMullen (D) in this swing-Republican district.
- Smith: 52.51% ✔
- McMullen: 47.49%
10th District Pos. 2 (Mt. Vernon)
Democratic challenger Dave Paul continues to hold his narrow lead on Rep. Dave Hayes (R). Just 550 votes are between them.
- Paul: 50.49%
- Hayes: 49.51%
17th District Pos. 1 (Vancouver)
Rep. Vicki Kraft (R) has maintained her lead on Tanisha Harris (D) but this race is still extremely close. Kraft leads by just 991 votes.
- Kraft: 50.92%
- Harris: 49.08%
18th District Pos. 2 (Vancouver)
Larry Hoff (R) has beat out Kathy Gillespie (D) for this open seat.
- Hoff: 52.84% ✔
- Gillespie: 47.16%
19th District Pos. 1 (SW Washington — Lower Olympic Peninsula)
Rep. Jim Walsh (R) continues to defend his seat against challenger Erin Frasier (D) but only by a mere 630 votes.
- Walsh: 50.63%
- Fraiser: 49.37%
25th District Pos. 1 (Puyallup)
In this swing-district open seat, Republican Kelly Chambers has defeated Democrat Jamie Smith.
- Chambers: 51.67% ✔
- Smith: 48.33%
25th District Pos. 2 (Puyallup)
This also open seat has gone to Republican Chris Gildon who ran against Democrat Brian Duthie.
- Gildon: 52.3% ✔
- Duthie: 47.7%
26th District Pos. 1 (Port Orchard)
Rep. Jesse Young (R) has defeated of challenger Connie Fitzpatrick (D).
- Young: 51.45% ✔
- Fitzpatrck: 48.55%
28th District Pos. 1 (University Place)
Democratic challenger Mari Leavitt (D) will take Republican Rep. Dick Muri’s seat in this pure swing district.
- Leavitt: 51.64% ✔
- Muri: 48.78%
35th District Pos. 2 (Shelton)
Rep. Drew MacEwen (R) has defended his seat against challenger David Daggett (D) in this swing district.
- MacEwen: 51.4% ✔
- Dagget: 48.6%
42nd District Pos. 1 (Whatcom County)
Rep. Luanne Van Werven (R) is still ahead of challenger Justin Boneau (D) by 305 in this traditionally Republican District.
- Van Werven: 50.21%
- Boneau: 49.79%
42nd District Pos. 2 (Whatcom County)
Sharon Shoemaker (D) could be poised to pick up Rep. Vince Buys (R) seat who remains behind by 760.
- Shewmake: 50.53%
- Buys: 49.47%
44th District Pos. 2 (Mill Creek)
Challenger Jared Mead (D) has defeated incumbent Rep. Mark Harmsworth (R).
- Mead: 52.22% ✔
- Harmsworth: 47.78%
47th District Pos. 1 (Kent/Auburn)
Rep. Mark Hargrove (R) has beat challenger Debra Entenman (D) in this pure swing district.
- Entenman: 52.84% ✔
- Hargrove: 47.16%