Nineteen seats are open in Washington’s state legislative elections this year, meaning no incumbents filed. That is down 27% from 26 open seats in each of the previous two elections and means newcomers are guaranteed 13% of the legislature next year.
Twenty-nine incumbents face primary contests in Washington’s state legislative elections this year, one above the average of 28 since 2010. There were 24 incumbents contested in 2024.
Seventeen of the contested incumbents are Democrats, and 12 are Republicans. Democrats have a 30-19 majority in the state Senate and a 59-39 majority in the state House. Washington has had a Democratic trifecta since Democrats gained control of the House in 2017.
Washington has 43 contested state legislative primaries this year, just above the average number of 42 contested primaries in Washington each cycle from 2010 to 2024. Washington uses top-two primaries. All candidates run in the same primary and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party.
In total, 264 major-party candidates filed to run—152 Democrats and 112 Republicans. All 98 House seats and 24 of the 49 Senate seats are up for election.
Washington’s state legislative primaries are scheduled for Aug. 4.
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