“It looks like we’re going to have that supermajority,” House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, D-West Seattle, said Thursday. “If the late ballots trend our way we could get a few more.”
A 66-seat majority would give Democrats the power to override gubernatorial vetoes and advance constitutional amendments. Democrats last held a supermajority with 67 members in 1949, came close with 65 in 1992, and Republicans nearly reached it in 1996 with 62 seats.
The projected majority took shape as Republican incumbents accepted that they will not return to Olympia next year. Rep. Kevin Waters, R-Stevenson, conceded Wednesday night, congratulating Democrat Ben Christly, who led 55.5% to 44.3% at the time. “While the outcome was not what we had hoped for, I am incredibly grateful to everyone who supported our campaign, volunteered their time, and believed in our vision for the future of our district,” Christly wrote. Waters also congratulated Diana Perez, who is beating his seatmate, Rep. David Stuebe of Washougal. “You don’t do that for me,” Stuebe said of Waters conceding his race for him.
Stuebe, who is also mayor of Washougal, said: “I’m still in shock. I’m sure you can hear the disappointment in my voice.” He added: “We’re going to have no role up there. It would be really tough to serve in that.”
Reps. John Ley of Vancouver, Gloria Mendoza of Grandview and Deb Manjarrez of Wapato also said they did not expect to overcome the margins against them. “The voters have spoken in the midst of a national blue wave. It is highly unlikely for things to turn around,” said Ley, who trails Democrat Deken Letinich by 10 percentage points in the 18th Legislative District. “I knew that it was going to be a close race because of what is happening nationally,” said Mendoza, a former mayor of Grandview, adding that she will continue to represent her district and state in some capacity.
Rep. Stephanie McClintock, R-Vancouver, is also trailing in the 18th District. Her Democratic opponent, Randi Knott, said late Thursday that she has not heard from McClintock and is not ready to claim victory, but believes it is clear she will win. That would propel Democrats to the supermajority.
In the 14th Legislative District in central Washington, Democrat Chelsea Dimas of Sunnyside is beating Mendoza, and Democrat Ezequiel Morfin of Toppenish is leading Manjarrez. A court-ordered redistricting, an intensified organizing effort by Democrats and the unpopularity of President Donald Trump are propelling the pair. “And today, their mija, a little Indigenous Mexicana from Sunnyside, is set to make history and FLIP THE 14TH,” Dimas wrote on Facebook. She said she would be the first from Sunnyside, the first Indigenous person, the first Democratic Latina and the first queer person of colour elected to the Legislature from that side of the mountains. “To the people who didn’t vote for me, I want you to know that I will fight for you, too. Because this seat doesn’t belong to me. It doesn’t belong to any political party. It belongs to la gente.”
Democrat Renee Hernandez Greenfield of Port Orchard is well on her way to succeeding retiring Republican Rep. Michelle Valdez. Her opponent, Katy Cornell, said she faces a “hurdle to overcome” but will wait for more votes before conceding.
Fitzgibbon said he was looking forward to the new members. “We’ll have more voices from more areas of the state that we haven’t heard from. It will mean more diversity and it will mean more life experiences,” he said. Managing a larger caucus, he added, is “a good problem to have.”
Democrats could potentially pick up several more seats: Republican Rep. Brian Burnett holds a 110-vote lead over Democrat Stacy Willoughby in the 12th District; Democrat David Berg is ahead of Republican Rep. Michael Keaton by 669 votes in the 25th District, where Republican Cyndy Jacobsen leads Democrat Jenn Marie Strickling by 222 votes; and in the 35th District, Republicans Dan Griffey and Travis Couture lead Democrats Jim Pierson and Marla Littlesun by 951 and 1,107 votes respectively.