Two legislative districts in Washington, 5 and 26, feature Senate races on this year’s general election ballot, and both contests are intensifying as Election Day nears.
Legislative District 5
Democrat Victoria Hunt is competing against Republican Chad Magendanz for the state Senate seat.
In the primary election, Hunt led Magendanz by nearly 3,300 votes. She earned 54.1% of the primary vote compared to Magendanz’s 45.7%.
Washington’s 5th Legislative District covers the region between Issaquah and Enumclaw.
Hunt was appointed to fill the Senate seat after Senator Bill Ramos died in June while in office. Before her brief tenure as a senator, Hunt served on the Issaquah City Council for three terms and completed one term as a state representative.
Magendanz, meanwhile, was a member of the Washington House of Representatives, representing District 5, Position 2, for four years (2013-2017). He currently teaches computer science at Sammamish High School, following his unsuccessful Senate run last year, in which he lost to Bill Ramos, and a bid for a House seat in 2022, which also ended in defeat.
As a teacher, Magendanz has campaigned on improving test scores in schools by better distributing both state and federal resources.
Hunt has been campaigning on overall affordability, both at the voter level in terms of housing and daily amenities, and at the government level to ensure sufficient resources to combat devastating disasters, such as wildfires or bomb cyclones.
Legislative District 26
Democratic state Senator Deb Krishnadasan is facing her first election against Republican state Representative Michelle Caldier in this year’s general election.
Krishnadasan received 1,158 more votes than Caldier in August’s primary election, earning 51.2% of the vote compared to Caldier’s 48.6%.
Krishnadasan was appointed to the seat after former state senator Emily Randall was elected to Congress in 2024. On the opposing side, Caldier represents District 26, Position 2 in the Washington House of Representatives. She was first elected in 2014 and has been reelected five times since.
While both Krishnadasan and Caldier want to prioritize funding for education and Medicaid, Krishnadasan has voted in favor of capping rent increases and expanding unemployment benefits to workers on strike, while Caldier has opposed both policies.
Washington’s general election is November 4.
The two competitive Senate races potentially determining whether Democrats maintain or expand their legislative majority, with control of the state Senate affecting policy outcomes on taxation, healthcare, environmental regulations, and social issues that define Washington’s political battles between progressive urban Democrats and conservative suburban Republicans.
Victoria Hunt’s 54.1% to 45.7% primary lead over Chad Magendanz representing solid but not insurmountable advantage, with the 8.4 percentage point margin and 3,300 vote differential providing Hunt with momentum while leaving Magendanz with realistic path to victory if he can persuade undecided voters and increase Republican turnout.
The Issaquah to Enumclaw geographic span covering Legislative District 5 encompassing diverse communities, with the district stretching from wealthy suburban Issaquah eastward through semi-rural areas to the agricultural town of Enumclaw creating heterogeneous electorate where urban progressive voters coexist with rural conservative constituencies.
Senator Bill Ramos’ June death creating the vacancy that Hunt was appointed to fill representing tragic circumstances, with Ramos’ passing mid-term requiring appointment rather than special election giving Hunt incumbent advantage of already serving in the position she seeks to retain.
Hunt’s three terms on Issaquah City Council and one term as state representative providing extensive elected experience, with her local government background potentially appealing to voters who value deep community roots and understanding of municipal issues affecting daily life in District 5’s cities and towns.
Magendanz’s four-year House service from 2013-2017 demonstrating prior legislative experience, with his earlier tenure providing familiarity with Olympia processes and policy-making that counters Hunt’s incumbent advantage by showing he’s not a political novice lacking governmental knowledge.
The Sammamish High School computer science teaching position grounding Magendanz in education, with his classroom experience providing authentic credibility on school funding and curriculum issues that politicians without direct teaching background cannot match regardless of their stated education priorities.
Magendanz’s 2023 loss to Bill Ramos and 2022 House defeat demonstrating electoral vulnerability, with the back-to-back unsuccessful campaigns raising questions about his appeal to District 5 voters who have repeatedly rejected him though his persistence shows determination and name recognition that could eventually translate to victory.
The test score improvement emphasis in Magendanz’s campaign appealing to parents concerned about academic achievement, with his proposal to better distribute state and federal resources potentially resonating with voters frustrated by Washington’s persistently mediocre student performance despite high per-pupil spending.
Hunt’s affordability focus addressing economic anxiety affecting District 5 residents, with housing costs in Issaquah and surrounding areas straining household budgets creating electoral opportunity for candidates promising relief through policy interventions that reduce living expenses.
The disaster preparedness emphasis reflecting recent Washington experiences, with wildfires in eastern counties and bomb cyclones causing widespread damage demonstrating that emergency response funding represents practical necessity rather than abstract concern creating bipartisan appeal for Hunt’s resource allocation arguments.
Deb Krishnadasan’s narrow 51.2% to 48.6% primary lead over Michelle Caldier representing genuine toss-up, with the 2.6 percentage point margin and mere 1,158 vote difference indicating that either candidate could prevail depending on turnout patterns and late-deciding voters making the race among Washington’s most competitive.
Krishnadasan’s appointment following Emily Randall’s congressional election creating appointed incumbent status, with Krishnadasan’s brief Senate tenure providing some advantages of incumbency while limiting her record that opponents can criticize though voters may question whether appointees deserve reelection without first winning contested races.
Michelle Caldier’s decade-long House service since 2014 with five reelections demonstrating electoral strength, with her repeated victories indicating strong constituent relationships and political skill that make her formidable challenger despite Krishnadasan’s incumbent status and primary lead.
The education and Medicaid funding agreement between candidates representing bipartisan consensus, with both Democrats and Republicans acknowledging these programs require adequate resources though disagreements emerge over funding levels, revenue sources, and specific program structures creating policy distinctions despite shared priorities.
The rent control divergence highlighting fundamental ideological divide, with Krishnadasan’s support for capping rent increases reflecting progressive belief that market regulations protect tenants from exploitation while Caldier’s opposition represents conservative view that price controls reduce housing supply and hurt the people they intend to help.
The unemployment benefits for striking workers representing another stark contrast, with Krishnadasan’s backing demonstrating labor-friendly progressivism viewing strikes as legitimate collective bargaining tools warranting safety net support while Caldier’s opposition reflects business-friendly conservatism viewing such benefits as subsidizing work stoppages that harm employers.
The District 26 geography covering Pierce County communities creating swing district dynamics, with the area’s mix of military families from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, suburban commuters, and working-class voters producing competitive elections where neither party dominates enabling both Democrats and Republicans to win depending on candidates and circumstances.
The November 4 Election Day timing providing limited remaining campaign window, with candidates having only days to persuade undecided voters through advertising, door-knocking, and media appearances making the final stretch crucial for mobilizing supporters and swaying the small percentage of genuinely persuadable voters who determine close races.
The statewide implications of these races extending beyond individual districts, with Democrats currently controlling the state Senate requiring they defend vulnerable seats like Districts 5 and 26 to maintain their majority enabling them to pass progressive legislation without requiring Republican cooperation.
The campaign finance disparities potentially affecting outcomes, with Republican Party and business interests typically outspending Democrats in competitive races while labor unions and progressive donors counter with their own contributions creating spending arms races where money doesn’t guarantee victory but provides crucial advertising and organizing capacity.
The down-ballot nature of legislative races creating volatility, with voters focused on presidential, gubernatorial, or congressional contests often paying minimal attention to state legislative candidates making these races susceptible to last-minute developments or turnout fluctuations that presidential-level campaigns don’t experience.
The suburban Seattle and Tacoma context where both districts are located reflecting Washington’s political geography, with the I-5 corridor communities increasingly competitive as suburban voters abandon Republican Party in reaction to Trump while some traditional Democratic voters shift rightward over crime, homelessness, and economic concerns.
