Why It Matters
Democrat Jenn Marie Strickling has moved ahead of Republican Rep. Cyndy Jacobsen in Washington’s 25th District House race. The result could help Democrats expand their existing majority to a two-thirds supermajority in the Washington House.
What Happened
Strickling first moved in front of Jacobsen on Thursday after trailing by four votes before that count. Strickling had 28,480 votes to Jacobsen’s 28,398, giving Strickling an 82-vote advantage.
The race is likely headed for a recount. Pierce County election officials reported 350 votes remained to be counted, while 280 ballots in the district were being challenged over signature issues. More votes are expected to be counted Tuesday.
Strickling said, “We’re going to continue being patient while every single vote is counted over the next few weeks.” Jacobsen said, “I think there’s still a statistical chance to come out on top, we’ll keep working.”
In another referenced 25th District race, Republican Rep. Michael Keaton is expected to lose to Democrat David Berg, who serves on the Puyallup school board.
By the Numbers
10 seats — Potential Democratic gains in the Washington state House
109 votes — Jacobsen’s lead when the first election-night ballots were counted
82 votes — Strickling’s lead over Jacobsen on Thursday
28,480 votes — Strickling’s total
28,398 votes — Jacobsen’s total
350 votes — Votes Pierce County officials reported remaining to count
280 ballots — Challenged ballots in the 25th District over signature issues
0.5% — Vote-margin threshold for a required machine recount
150 votes — Vote-margin threshold for a manual recount
59 seats — Seats held by Democrats before the election
39 seats — Seats held by Republicans before the election
Nov. 23 — Scheduled election-certification date
Zoom Out
Democrats held 59 seats in the Washington House before the election, compared with 39 Republican seats. If Strickling wins, Democrats could hold as many as 69 seats, while the potential Democratic gains across the chamber total 10 seats.
Jacobsen has served three terms. Her reported victory margins were 5% in 2020, 15.5% in 2022 and 11.5% in 2024. She attributed her current underperformance to national politics.
What’s Next
Additional ballots are expected to be counted Tuesday. Washington’s election certification is scheduled for Nov. 23, and the final margin will determine whether the race meets the state’s recount thresholds.