Two Washington state legislative districts, the 5th and 26th, feature closely contested Senate races with both Democratic candidates holding single-digit leads following Tuesday’s initial vote count.
Legislative District 5
Democrat Victoria Hunt leads Republican Chad Magendanz by slightly more than 2,000 votes in the battle for District 5’s state Senate seat.
Hunt has captured 54.5% of the vote with 12,541 ballots compared to Magendanz’s 45.3% with 10,424 votes, according to early Washington Secretary of State data.
These preliminary results closely mirror August’s primary election, where Hunt secured 54.1% of primary votes against Magendanz’s 45.7%, suggesting relatively stable voter preferences between the two contests.
Washington’s 5th Legislative District encompasses the region stretching between Issaquah and Enumclaw, covering diverse communities ranging from suburban areas to more rural territories in the Cascade foothills.
Hunt received appointment to the Senate seat following Senator Bill Ramos’s death in June whilst serving in office. Prior to her brief tenure as senator, Hunt accumulated three terms on the Issaquah City Council and served one term as a state representative, building substantial experience in local governance before ascending to the upper chamber.
Magendanz brings his own legislative background to the race, having served four years in the Washington House of Representatives representing District 5, Position 2, from 2013 to 2017. He currently teaches computer science at Sammamish High School, a position he assumed following unsuccessful campaigns for Senate last year against Bill Ramos and a House seat bid in 2022 that also ended in defeat.
Drawing on his classroom experience, Magendanz has campaigned on improving student test scores in schools through better distribution of both state and federal educational resources. He argues that funding allocation patterns currently fail to direct resources where they produce maximum impact on student achievement.
Hunt has focused her campaign on comprehensive affordability issues, addressing both voter concerns regarding housing costs and daily expenses whilst also ensuring government possesses adequate resources to respond to devastating disasters such as wildfires or severe weather events like bomb cyclones that have increasingly affected the region.
Legislative District 26
Democratic state Senator Deb Krishnadasan maintains a slight advantage over Republican state Representative Michelle Caldier in this year’s general election for District 26.
Krishnadasan received 1,826 more votes than Caldier according to Secretary of State results, earning 52.6% of votes compared to Caldier’s 47.2%, a margin that positions her favourably whilst leaving the race still competitive as additional ballots are processed.
Krishnadasan gained appointment to the seat after former state senator Emily Randall won election to Congress in 2024, creating a vacancy that party leaders filled by elevating Krishnadasan. Caldier represents District 26, Position 2 in the Washington House of Representatives, a seat she first captured in 2014 and has defended successfully through five subsequent re-election campaigns.
Whilst both Krishnadasan and Caldier identify funding for education and Medicaid as priorities, their voting records reveal significant policy differences. Krishnadasan has supported legislation capping rent increases and expanding unemployment benefits to workers participating in strikes, measures Caldier opposed, viewing them as excessive government intervention in market mechanisms and labour relations.
The contrasting approaches reflect broader philosophical divisions about government’s role in regulating housing markets and supporting workers during labour disputes. Krishnadasan argues such protections prevent exploitation and maintain stability for working families, whilst Caldier contends they create unintended consequences that ultimately harm the constituents they aim to help.
Both districts represent politically competitive territory where neither party maintains overwhelming dominance, making these Senate races particularly significant for determining chamber control and legislative priorities in Olympia. The outcomes will influence everything from budget negotiations to policy initiatives on housing, transportation, education funding, and healthcare access.
District 5’s demographic composition includes established suburban communities alongside growing exurban areas, creating diverse constituencies with varying priorities. Economic development, transportation infrastructure, and education quality rank among top concerns for residents across the district’s geography.
District 26 encompasses portions of Pierce and Kitsap counties, including parts of Gig Harbor and surrounding areas. The district’s mix of military-connected families, retirees, and working professionals creates a moderate political environment where candidates from both parties can compete effectively.
Election officials will continue processing ballots throughout the week as mail-in votes postmarked by election day arrive at county elections offices. Washington’s vote-by-mail system means substantial numbers of ballots often arrive in the final days before and after election day, potentially shifting margins in close races.
Given the current spreads in both contests, the leads appear relatively stable though not insurmountable. Historical patterns suggest that later-counted ballots sometimes favour different candidates than early returns, though the magnitude of potential swings varies by district and election cycle.
Final certification of all Washington state legislative races will occur in late November following completion of ballot processing, signature verification, and any necessary recounts. Candidates winning these seats will assume office in January when the new legislative session begins.
The state Senate races carry particular significance because they help determine majority control of the chamber, which influences committee assignments, floor votes on legislation, and the overall policy agenda. Even a single seat can prove pivotal in advancing or blocking major legislative initiatives.
