Democrat Jenn Marie Strickling has taken the lead over Republican Representative Cyndy Jacobsen in a close race for Washington's 25th District House seat, flipping a 109-vote deficit on election night to an 82-vote advantage as of Thursday's ballot counting. The result could push Democrats to as many as 69 seats in the chamber.
Strickling now holds 28,480 votes to Jacobsen's 28,398, according to the latest tally from Pierce County election officials. She had trailed by four votes before Thursday's count.
Pierce County Elections Manager Kyle Haugh reported that 350 votes remain to be counted across several legislative districts, with the 25th District generally accounting for 16% of the county's votes. The 350-vote figure does not include ballots not yet received, such as those in drop boxes in other counties that need to be mailed to Pierce County. As of Thursday afternoon, 280 ballots in the district were being challenged over signature issues that could be cured.
Strickling wrote on Facebook after the tally: "We're going to continue being patient while every single vote is counted over the next few weeks."
Jacobsen, a three-term incumbent, said in an interview Thursday: “I think there's still a statistical chance to come out on top, we'll keep working.”
The race is likely headed for a recount. A machine recount is required when the margin is under 0.5% of total ballots cast and fewer than 2,000 votes; a manual recount is triggered if the difference is fewer than 150 votes and less than 0.25% of the total votes. Recounts rarely flip outcomes.
Democrats entered the election with 59 seats to Republicans' 39 and are set to win a two-thirds supermajority. Jacobsen's seatmate, Republican Representative Michael Keaton, is trailing Democrat David Berg by nearly 1,000 votes.
Jacobsen blamed her underperformance on national politics. “Ultimately, we didn't get our message out. I think that the national environment caused people to make decisions nationally and not think about their local elections,” she said.
Election certification is set for November 23. More votes are expected to be counted Tuesday.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- This race could determine whether Democrats reach 69 seats in the Washington House, a dominate supermajority.
- A Jacobson loss would mark a notable shift in a historically Republican-leaning district after three terms of comfortable wins.
- The outcome will test whether national political sentiments affected down-ballot races in Washington state.
Background
Washington's 25th Legislative District covers Puyallup and surrounding areas, electing two representatives to the state House. Jacobsen had won her last three races by margins ranging from 5% to 15.5%. The state's vote tallying process continues for weeks after election day as counties count mail ballots and allow voters to fix signature issues.
Key Perspectives
Rep. Cyndy Jacobsen: says the national political environment turned voters away from Republicans and prevented her campaign from getting its message across in local races.
Jenn Marie Strickling: wrote that she is being patient while all votes are counted.
What to Watch
- The number of cured ballots and the final margin after all ballots are counted.
- Whether the margin triggers a recount and whether any recounts change the result.
- The outcome in the 25th District's other House seat, where Republican Michael Keaton trails David Berg by nearly 1,000 votes.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
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- SupportedStrickling wrote on Facebook that they would remain patient while every vote was counted over the next few weeks.Washington State Standard: ““We’re going to continue being patient while every single vote is counted over the next few weeks,” Strickling wrote on Facebook after the latest vote tally.”
- SupportedJacobsen said in a Thursday interview that she still had a statistical chance to win and would keep working.Washington State Standard: ““I think there’s still a statistical chance to come out on top, we’ll keep working,” Jacobsen said in an interview Thursday.”
- SupportedJacobsen said the national environment led voters to focus on national rather than local elections.Washington State Standard: ““I think the national environment caused people to make decisions nationally and not think about their local elections.””
- SupportedA Democrat has edged ahead in a tight Washington House race as counting continues.Washington State Standard: “Democrat Jenn Marie Strickling jumped ahead of Jacobsen for the first time on Thursday by 82 votes.”
- SupportedStrickling leads Jacobsen by 82 votes, and a recount is likely.Washington State Standard: “Given the current totals, the election is likely headed for a recount.”
- SupportedThe election-night 109-vote deficit became an 82-vote lead by Thursday.Washington State Standard: “Rep. Cyndy Jacobsen, R-Puyallup, was up by 109 votes when the first batch of ballots dropped on election night. But Democrat Jenn Marie Strickling jumped ahead of Jacobsen for the first time on Thursday by 82 votes.”
- SupportedStrickling has 28,480 votes and Jacobsen has 28,398.Washington State Standard: “Strickling has 28,480 votes to Jacobsen’s 28,398.”
- SupportedDemocrats could reach as many as 69 seats if Strickling wins.Washington State Standard: “Democrats will take a two-thirds supermajority in the chamber, and if Strickling wins, could get up to 69 seats.”
- SupportedPierce County election officials reported 350 votes left to count across several legislative districts.Washington State Standard: “Pierce County election officials report having 350 votes left to count, spread across several legislative districts.”
- SupportedAs of Thursday afternoon, 280 ballots in the district were being challenged over signature issues that could be cured.Washington State Standard: “As of Thursday afternoon, 280 ballots were being challenged in the 25th District due to signature issues that could be cured, Haugh said.”
- SupportedA machine recount is required below both the 0.5% and 2,000-vote thresholds; a manual recount is triggered below both 150 votes and 0.25%.Washington State Standard: “A machine recount is required if the difference between two candidates is under 0.5% of the total ballots cast and fewer than 2,000 votes. To trigger a manual recount, candidates have to be separated by fewer than 150 votes and 0.25% of the total votes.”