With initial returns from Washington’s August primary now in, several special legislative races offer early insight into voter sentiment, especially on ideological divides within the Democratic Party, and the durability of appointed lawmakers. While the outcomes won’t shift majority control in Olympia, they are sharpening the narrative ahead of the 2026 session. Election results will be certified by each county on August 19th and then by the Secretary of State on August 22nd.

5th LD: Senator Victoria Hunt (D), who was appointed from the state House after the passing of Senator Bill Ramos, has 54% of the vote. Her opponent, former state representative Chad Magendanz (R), has 46% of the vote. Both will advance to the general election.

26th LD: Senator Deborah Krishnadasan (D), appointed to fill the seat vacated by now U.S. Rep. Emily Randall, has 51% of the vote and trails her opponent, current state representative from the 26th LD, Michelle Caldier (R), who has 49% of the vote. Both will advance to the general election.

48th LD: Senator Vandana Slatter (D), who was appointed to fill the Senate seat over her state House colleague Amy Walen (D) earlier this year, has 60% of the vote. Representative Walen is now seeking the Senate seat in the special election and currently has 38% of the vote. Both will advance to the general election to finish the term of former Senator Patty Kuderer, who was elected as the state’s Insurance Commissioner in 2024.

33rd LD: Representative Edwin Obras (D), appointed to fill this seat when Representative Tina Orwall was appointed to the Senate, has 47% of the vote. Burien Mayor Kevin Schilling (D) has 31% of the vote, and Darryl Jones (R) has 22% of the vote. Obras and Schilling are expected to advance to the general election.

41st LD: Representative Janice Zahn (D), appointed to the House to replace Representative Tana Senn after she joined Governor Bob Ferguson’s administration, has 64% of the vote, with John Whitney (R) at 28% and Vinita Kak (D) receiving 8%.

48th LD: Representative Osman Salahuddin (D), appointed to fill the seat of now-Senator Slatter, has 63% of the vote. Former Redmond City Council candidate Dennis Ellis (R) has 29% of the vote and Ranga Bondada (D) has 8% of the vote.

Mayor: Incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell has 41% of the vote and trails Katie Wilson, co-founder and executive director of the Transit Riders Union, with 51% of the vote. Joe Mallahan, former T-Mobile vice president, has 4% of the vote; Joe Molloy, housing advocate, has 0.4% of the vote; and Ry Armstrong, arts and community advocate, has 1% of the vote. Harrell and Wilson will advance to the general election.

City Council-District 2: Former District 2 Councilmember Tammy Morales stepped down in January and appointee Mark Solomon is not running for a full term. Candidates include: Jeanie Chun, community activist, who has 13% of the vote; Adonis Duckworth, City of Seattle policy advisor, who has 29% of the vote; Jamie Fackler, labor leader and City building inspector, who has 10% of the vote; and Eddie Lin, assistant City Attorney, who has 47% of the vote. Lin and Duckworth will advance to the general election.

City Council, At-Large, Position 8: Incumbent Alexis Mercedes Rinck has 78% of the vote, business owner Rachel Savage has 12% of the vote, Jesse James, musician and political journalist, has 2% of the vote, and Ray Rogers has 4% of the vote.

City Council, At-Large, Position 9: Incumbent Council President Sara Nelson has 35% of the vote and trails Dionne Foster, community organizer and City policy advisor, at 58%. Connor Nash, former economist and state analyst, has 3% of the vote and Mia Jacobsen has 3%.

City Attorney: Incumbent Ann Davison has 33% of the vote, trailing former Assistant US Attorney Erika Evans, who has 56% of the vote. Rory O’Sullivan, partner at Washington Employment Benefits Advocates, has 6% of the vote, and Nathan Rouse, a King County public defender, has 5% of the vote. Evans and Davison will advance to the general election.