Several close Washington state legislative races remain undecided a week after the election. In District 10, Republican Sen. Ron Muzzall leads Democrat Janet St. Clair by over 1,500 votes, though uncounted ballots in Skagit County, where St. Clair is favored, could shift the outcome. In District 18, Democrat Adrian Cortes narrowly leads Republican Brad Benton by 252 votes for an open Senate seat, a margin that may lead to a recount. Meanwhile, Republican John Ley is leading Democrat John Zingale for District 18’s Position 2 seat, and Republican Paul Harris holds a strong lead over Democrat Marla Keethler in District 17’s Senate race. However, District 17’s Position 2 seat remains in question, as Republican David Stuebe leads by 868 votes but faces outstanding ballots that favor Democrat Terri Niles in Clark County. Read more at Center Square.

After 15 years as King County Executive, Dow Constantine is finally bowing out, leaving a legacy of costly transit projects and lofty speeches about a “fairer society.” He’s racked up plenty of milestones, including outlasting six Seattle mayors, overseeing a $148 billion transit spend, and even throwing himself a “25th Annual 39th Birthday Party.” Constantine, who’s been in public office since 1996, says it’s time to “let a new leader take the reins”—but don’t expect him to slip quietly into retirement. Whether anyone will miss his brand of leadership is another question. Read more at MyNorthwest.com.

Surprise, Surprise – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal is backtracking on her fiery anti-filibuster stance now that Democrats have lost control, showing her priorities shift with party convenience. As KTTH’s Jason Rantz points out, Once a vocal critic of the “Jim Crow filibuster,” calling it an obstacle to progress, she’s now comfortable with it—because it keeps Republicans from enacting their agenda. Jayapal’s sudden flip suggests her stance on “racist” filibuster rules was less about principle and more about gaining leverage. After all, she only championed court-packing and rule-bending when it helped her side, revealing she’s as power-driven as the very figures she criticizes. Jayapal’s shifting position just reinforces her reputation as a partisan player, more invested in optics than actual governance. Read more at KTTH.

Republican Congressman Dan Newhouse has officially won his sixth term representing central Washington, defeating fellow Republican challenger Jerrod Sessler with 52.1% of the vote. Newhouse, who has served since 2014, highlighted his commitment to protecting the Snake River dams, cleaning up the Hanford Site, and countering threats from China. His victory marks his second re-election since voting to impeach Trump after the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, making him one of only two GOP House members who supported impeachment and remain in Congress. Sessler, a Navy veteran and businessman, had Trump’s endorsement but could not manage to unseat Newhouse. The 4th District includes the agricultural Yakima Valley, the Yakama Reservation, and the Tri-Cities. Read more at Washington State Standard.

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