Washington Democrats eye largest state House share since 1939
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Washington's Legislature is poised to shift further left after last week's election, with Democrats on track to flip nine Republican-held seats and left-leaning candidates leading in several races against fellow Democrats.
Why it matters: The election could give progressives more influence over decisions on issues such as taxes, housing and education funding, even though Democrats already control both legislative chambers.
By the numbers: Democrats led in nine contests for Republican-held state House seats as of Monday, according to the latest unofficial results from the Washington secretary of state's office.
- If those results hold, Democrats would control 68 of the state House's 98 seats — their largest share of the chamber since 1939.
- Democrats could also pick up a state Senate seat in the 35th Legislative District, where Democrat Carolina Mejia led Republican incumbent Drew MacEwen by 88 votes as of Monday.
- If Mejia wins, that would put the state Senate at 31 Democratic members and 18 Republicans. The last time Democrats had more than 30 seats was in 2010.
Zoom in: The shift to the left isn't just about Democrats defeating Republicans.
- State Reps. Amy Walen (D-Kirkland) and Melanie Morgan (D-Parkland), who both voted against Washington's new income tax on millionaires, were trailing Democratic challengers who support the tax.
- In an intraparty state Senate race, Rep. Cindy Ryu (D-Shoreline) was leading in the 32nd Legislative District after challenging incumbent Jesse Salomon (D-Shoreline) from the left.
- Longtime state Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos (D-Seattle), who chairs the House education committee, was about 30 percentage points behind Kelabe Tewolde, who challenged her from the left on issues including rent stabilization.
What they're saying: "We are seeing a Legislature that is certainly more progressive than the last one," Crystal Fincher, a political consultant who works with Democrats, told Axios.
- Fincher said voters are increasingly impatient with politicians who don't appear to be addressing affordability, education funding and other problems affecting their daily lives.
- She said concerns about education funding and possible Seattle school closures were especially important in Santos' race, while support for taxing wealthy households helped distinguish some Democratic challengers from incumbents.
The other side: Republican political consultant Chad Minnick said the GOP's inability to provide stronger competition in Washington is allowing the more liberal wing of the Democratic Party to gain power.
- Minnick said President Trump's actions have hurt Republicans in Washington, while the state GOP has failed to reengage former Republican voters who have stopped turning out for elections.
- In particular, Minnick said, the war in Iran and Trump's tariffs have hurt people's pocketbooks.
- He noted that the picture in Washington state was quite different a decade ago, when Republicans had a slim majority in the state Senate and were within two seats of a majority in the state House.
What's next: The Legislature will convene in Olympia and swear in new members in January.