The Washington State Democratic Party claimed Friday evening that it had secured a supermajority in the House of Representatives, a claim the state Republican Party called “premature” as ballots continue to be counted.
State Democratic Party Chair Shasti Conrad congratulated House Democrats in a statement, and noted that this is the sixth consecutive election cycle that House Democrats have expanded their majorities.
“Now the hard work truly begins to reign (sic) in the cost of living, protect the civil liberties of every Washingtonian, and continue building the best state in the nation,” said Conrad.
A supermajority in the House would make it easier for Democrats to suspend legislative rules and have more negotiating power, among other advantages. If both the House and Senate secure supermajorities, it would give Democrats the ability to override gubernatorial vetoes and pass constitutional amendments.
Stephen Reed, spokesperson for the state Democrats, said the party is claiming victory in the 14th, 17th, 18th and 26th legislative districts.
Washington State Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh said in a text message to The Seattle Times that state Democrats “can ‘call’ whatever they like,” but acknowledged that voting numbers “don’t look good” for the four incumbent House Republicans in the 17th and 18th legislative districts in Southwest Washington.
At least one incumbent House Republican in the 17th Legislative District, Rep. Kevin Waters, has conceded.
Walsh also acknowledged that state Democratic Party claims of flipping the 14th Legislative District, which includes most of Yakima County with parts of Klickitat, Benton and Franklin counties, “may be right,” and said that machine issues in Benton County are causing delays.
Walsh said that the Republican candidate Katy Cornell in the 26th Legislative District, which includes Bremerton and Gig Harbor, is “closing the gap” in votes. On Tuesday, Cornell had about 45% of the vote to her Democratic opponent Renee Hernandez Greenfield’s nearly 55%. By Friday evening Cornell had over 46%, with Hernandez Greenfield garnering nearly 54%.
House Democrats need to flip seven seats to lock in a supermajority, bringing the total to 66 of the 98 seats. It would be the first election since 1948 that Democrats secured a supermajority in the chamber.
All 98 state House seats and 24 of 49 Senate seats were up for election this cycle.
Senate Democrats would need four more seats for a supermajority; the likelihood of that occurring this election cycle is not high. As of Friday, Senate Democrats are poised to potentially pick up one seat in the 35th Legislative District, which includes all of Mason and parts of Kitsap and Thurston counties.
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