Washington State Senate 2026 – Statewide Snapshot
The August primary is over. Twenty-four of 49 Senate seats are on the November 3, 2026 general ballot under Washington’s top-two system. Democrats hold a clear majority; Republicans’ November field is a mix of safe eastern seats, a few genuine contests, and long-shot challenges in blue districts — including LD 36.
Unofficial campaign summary for context — not a prediction or endorsement map. Confirm candidates and totals with the Washington Secretary of State and county elections offices.
Districts with a Republican on the November ballot
Preference labels as reported publicly (Republican / Democratic / Independent). Top-two means both finalists advance regardless of party.
| District | Area (approx.) | November picture | Republican(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Spokane Valley / eastern Spokane Co. | Safe R | Jeff Holy (inc.) |
| 7 | Northeast WA | R vs Independent | Shelly Short (inc.) |
| 8 | Tri-Cities (Benton / Franklin) | R vs R (open) | Nikki Torres · Gabe Galbraith |
| 13 | Central WA | Safe R (open) | Alex Ybarra |
| 15 | Yakima Valley | Safe R (open) | Jeremie Dufault |
| 21 | Mukilteo / south Snohomish | D vs R | Riaz Khan |
| 26 | Gig Harbor / Kitsap–Pierce | D vs R (watched) | Gary Parker |
| 30 | Federal Way / south King | D vs R | Michael Rutland |
| 31 | Auburn / Enumclaw / east Pierce | R vs D (watched) | Phil Fortunato (inc.) |
| 35 | Kitsap / Mason / Thurston (parts) | R vs D (Harris +0.7 in 2024) | Drew MacEwen (inc.) |
| 36 | NW Seattle (Ballard, Magnolia, Queen Anne…) | D vs R (steep climb) | Jillian England |
| 38 | Everett / south Snohomish | D vs R | Brad Bender |
| 44 | Snohomish County suburbs | D vs R | Sherri Larkin |
| 46 | NE Seattle / Lake City area | D vs R | Sandra Stephens |
| 47 | Kent / Covington / Maple Valley | D vs R | Kristina Soltys |
Where voters get no Republican in November
Top-two does not guarantee a Republican on every general-election ballot. In several districts this cycle, the November choice is Democrat vs Democrat — or effectively a single Democratic nominee with no Republican opponent.
That matters. When both finalists prefer the same party, there is no statewide mechanism that puts a Republican on the ballot “for balance.” The two highest vote-getters advance. Period. In deep-blue districts, that often means the real fight ends in August among Democrats, and November is an intra-party runoff.
| District | Area (approx.) | November picture |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | South Tacoma / Pierce | D vs D (open) |
| 32 | Shoreline / NW King | D vs D (Republican eliminated in primary) |
| 33 | SeaTac / Des Moines area | Effectively D-only / no R in general |
| 34 | West Seattle / Vashon | Effectively D-only / no R in general |
| 37 | Central / SE Seattle | D vs D (open) |
| 43 | Capitol Hill / central Seattle | D vs D |
| 45 | Kirkland / Redmond area | Effectively D-only / no R in general |
| 48 | Bellevue / Eastside | Effectively D-only / no R in general |
Why it matters for LD 36: Northwest Seattle is still heavily Democratic — but voters here do get a Republican on the November ballot. That is not automatic. It required a candidate filing, organizing, and finishing in the top two (England ~12.1%, ~5,876 votes in the primary). In neighboring deep-blue seats, that choice simply disappears.
If you want ordered liberty, energy abundance, and lower taxes to be a live option in Olympia, it starts with having someone on the ballot who will say those things out loud — and then turning out in November.
Big picture
- Democrats start with a structural majority and mostly friendly ground among seats up this cycle.
- Eastern and central Washington seats with Republican nominees are largely expected to stay Republican (including R–R in LD 8).
- Closer or more watched D–R races for statewide control narratives include LD 26, 31, and 35 — plus longer-shot challenges in blue and light-blue districts (21, 30, 36, 38, 44, 46, 47).
- Even strong Republican nights rarely flip enough seats for a Senate majority under current maps. The value of races like LD 36 is contrast, accountability, and building a larger vote for November — not pretending the district is a toss-up.
How this relates to LD 36
Primary certified: Frame ~87.7%, England ~12.1% (~5,876 votes). Both advance. The general is November 3. The district remains steeply Democratic; the campaign case is energy abundance, lower taxes, and public-safety realism against progressive incumbency.
See the 36th District analysis and Vote for the Frame–England contrast and what to do between now and November.
LD 42 (Whatcom / open) and any late certification details: re-check SOS if you need a precise opponent list before citing that race.
Paid for by Friends of Jillian England (AKA FOJE), P.O. Box 30064, Seattle, WA 98113.