Early Washington State Election Results Are Favorable for Progressives

Initial election night results — when roughly 60% of total expected ballots are counted in Washington state elections — are in, and progressives are off to a fast start. The state appears poised to reject perhaps all four statewide Republican-backed initiative repealing progressive legislation. Urbanist-endorsed Shaun Scott and Alexis Mercedes Rinck are up big over their more conservative opponents. Urbanist Ryan Mello is up in early results for Pierce County Executive.

Counting will continue over the coming weeks, usually with daily counts being released after 4pm. The Urbanist Elections Committee made endorsements in a long list of races and measures.

Republicans flailing statewide

• Initiative Measure No. 2066 is passing by a thin margin so far in early results. (Be advised: Some counties may be lagging in reporting initial returns.)
• Initiative Measure No. 2109 is trailing so far in early results. “No” has 63% to 36% for “yes.”
• Initiative Measure No. 2117 is trailing so far in early results. “No” has 62% to 37% for “yes.”
• Initiative Measure No. 2124 is trailing so far in early results. “No” has 55% to 44% for “yes.”
• Governor: Democrat Bob Ferguson is well ahead of Republican Dave Reichert 57% to 43%.
• Attorney General: Democrat Nick Brown (endorsed) is up 56% to 43% over Republican Pete Serrano.
• Lands Commissioner: Dave Upthegrove (endorsed) is up 53% to 46% over Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler.

Prop 1 and Rinck coast in Seattle

• Seattle Proposition No. 1: Yes (endorsed) is up big 66.8% to just 33.2% no. Seattle’s $1.55 billion transportation levy is on course to pass.
• Seattle City Council 8: Alexis Mercedes Rinck (endorsed) is up over Tanya Woo 57% to 42%, with 56% turnout so far.

LD10, LD18, and LD26 could give Democrats supermajorities

• LD10 senate: Democrat Janet St Clair is leading Republican incumbent Ron Muzzall 56% to 44%. This will be a state senate seat pickup for Democrats, barring a reversal. (Update: On Wednesday, this narrowed to just a 61-vote lead for St Clair.)
• LD14: Republicans are up big in all races, dashing hopes of a Democrat foothold in the Yakima Valley.
• LD17-2: Democrat Terri Niles is trailing but very close behind Republican David Stuebe — 49.8% to 50%. This would be a pickup for Democrats is Niles goes ahead in late returns.
• LD18 Senate: Democrat Adrian Cortes is leading Republican Brad Benton by 1.8 points: 50.8% to 49%. This would be a pickup for Democrats.
• LD18-2: Democrat John Zingale is trailing by a razor-thin margin against Republican John Fey — 49.75% to 50.1%.
• LD26-1: Democrat Adison Richards is leading Republican Jesse Young 52% to 47%. This looks like a state house pickup for Democrats.
• LD26-2: Democrat Tiffany Mitchell is trailing Republican incumbent Michelle Caldier 45% to 54%.
• LD-27-2: Devin Rydel Kelly (endorsed) is trailing incumbent Jake Fey 21% to 77%.
• LD43-2: Shaun Scott (endorsed) is up 67% to 31% over Andrea Suarez.
• LD45-2: Melissa Demyan (endorsed) is at 41%, trailing incumbent Democrat Larry Springer 56%.

Mello leads in Pierce County

• Pierce County Executive: Urbanist-endorsed Democrat Ryan Mello is up 51% to 48% over Republican Kelly Chambers.
• Pierce County Council D2: Democrat Davida Haygood (endorsed) is trailing incumbent Paul Herrera 42% to 57%
• Pierce County Council D3: Democrat John Linboe (endorsed) is trailing incument Amy Cruver 36% to 63%.
• Pierce County Council D6: Democrat incumbent Jani Hitchen (endorsed) is leading 52% to 47% over Republican Loujanna “LJ” Rohrer.

Tight race for state supreme court

• Democrat-backed Sal Mungia is up over conservative-backed Dave Larsen by a razor-thin 49.84% to 49.66% margin in the State Supreme Court, Position 2.

This is a developing story and we will update if we missed any relevant races.

What’s at Stake in Seattle and Washington State Elections