LD 36 State Senate – Straightforward Analysis
This is a two-candidate race for Washington State Senate in Legislative District 36 (Northwest Seattle: Ballard, Magnolia, Queen Anne, Phinney Ridge, and surrounding neighborhoods).
Summary of public roles and campaign themes. Not a prediction. For official ballot and filing information, see the Washington Secretary of State and King County Elections.
Candidates at a glance
| Candidate | Party | Background | Core message |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Noel Frame (Incumbent) |
Democrat | State Senator since 2023 (previously House since 2016). Vice Chair of Senate Ways & Means (Finance) and Human Services. | Progressive tax reform (key sponsor/advocate of the Millionaires Tax / SB 6346), expanded social services, housing, and progressive priorities. Strong institutional Democratic support. |
| Jillian England | Republican | Retired software/production engineer, longtime Seattle resident, GOP precinct officer and 36th District activist. Running as a practical conservative. | Energy abundance (nuclear, hydro, repeal carbon tax/CCA), repeal of the new state income tax, practical approaches to the homelessness/addiction/overdose crisis, lower taxes, and less ideology-driven governance. |
District reality
LD 36 is one of the most Democratic legislative districts in Washington. Recent Republican performance in contested races has typically been in the 10–16% range. Presidential and statewide Democratic margins here are routinely 70–80+ points. This is not a competitive district under normal conditions.
Strengths of each
Noel Frame
- Incumbent with name recognition and a clear progressive record.
- Deep ties to Democratic donors, labor, and progressive organizations.
- Positioned as a leader on tax policy that funds services important to many district voters.
- Benefits heavily from the district’s partisan makeup.
Jillian England
- Clear ideological contrast: energy realism, opposition to the new income tax, and focus on measurable outcomes on crime/addiction rather than process.
- Local roots and long involvement in the district’s Republican organization.
- Offers voters a non-incumbent, non-career-politician option focused on cost-of-living and reliability issues (power, taxes, public safety).
- Appeals to voters frustrated with progressive governance outcomes even if they still vote Democratic in most races.
Bottom line
The August primary is final. Frame finished with about 87.7% of the vote; England with about 12.1% (~5,876 votes). Under Washington’s top-two system, both advance to the general election on November 3, 2026.
This remains a steep uphill race for any Republican. Frame is the heavy favorite in November given the district’s partisan composition and her incumbency. England’s path is higher Republican and independent turnout plus crossover from voters unhappy with tax, energy, and public-safety outcomes — the same contrast that defined the primary, now with a longer runway to November.
If your priority is a candidate who will consistently oppose the new income tax, push energy abundance (especially nuclear), and challenge progressive orthodoxy on homelessness and addiction, England is the clear choice in this field. She is the only option offering that platform on the November ballot.
Primary count — final
Primary results certified Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Unofficial running totals during the count; final figures below. Official results: Washington Secretary of State (SOS).
| Date | Noel C. Frame (D) | Jillian England (R) | Write-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 8-4 | 86.16% · 19,216 | 13.60% · 3,033 | 0.24% · 54 |
| Wed 8-5 | 86.44% · 24,149 | 13.33% · 3,725 | 0.23% · 64 |
| Thu 8-6 | 87.17% · 31,945 | 12.60% · 4,616 | 0.23% · 85 |
| Fri 8-7 | 87.66% · 37,987 | 12.13% · 5,257 | 0.21% · 91 |
| Mon 8-10 | 87.66% · 41,944 | 12.14% · 5,807 | 0.20% · 97 |
| Tue 8-11 | 87.66% · 42,114 | 12.13% · 5,829 | 0.20% · 97 |
| Wed 8-12 | 87.67% · 42,291 | 12.12% · 5,848 | 0.20% · 98 |
| Thu 8-13 | 87.70% · 42,424 | 12.10% · 5,853 | 0.20% · 98 |
| Fri 8-14 | 87.68% · 42,511 | 12.11% · 5,872 | 0.20% · 99 |
| Mon 8-17 | 87.68% · 42,525 | 12.11% · 5,875 | 0.20% · 99 |
| Final 8-19 | 87.69% · 42,548 | 12.11% · 5,876 | 0.20% · 99 |
| First → Final | +23,332 votes | +2,843 votes | +45 |
Primary certified. From first report (Aug 4) through final (Aug 19), our absolute total rose from 3,033 to 5,876.
Both candidates advance under Washington’s top-two system. General election: November 3.
See the campaign notes for the full write-up.
Paid for by Friends of Jillian England (AKA FOJE), P.O. Box 30064, Seattle, WA 98113.