Dhingra Maintains Lead Over Englund After Wednesday Ballot Drop

REDMOND, WA - Democrat Manka Dhingra maintained her big lead over Republican Jinyoung Lee Englund Wednesday after King County released the latest ballot count. On election night, Dhingra held a commanding 10-point lead over Englund for the 45th Legislative District seat. By Wednesday, Dhingra's lead was 55% to Englund's 44%.

The lead was so big, the Associated Press called the race for Dhingra Wednesday afternoon.

The race has drawn national attention - and money, shattering state fundraising records - because it will determine which party controls state government. With Dhingra's win, Democrats will control the state Senate, House, and governor's office. Dhingra's win also creates a West Coast "blue wall" - where Democrats control all major state-level seats in Oregon, California, and Washington.

Appearing on KUOW Wednesday afternoon, state GOP Chairwoman Susan Hutchison said that the 45th District was the "Democrats to lose" and did not think the unpopularity of Donald Trump had any affect on the outcome of the race.

Caption: In this Aug. 22, 2017 file photo, Democrat Manka Dhingra, a candidate for Washington state's 45th District Senate seat, poses for a portrait at her campaign headquarters in Redmond, Wash. Voters from the suburbs east of Seattle who vote by mail and on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, will decide whether the Washington state Senate will remain the only Republican-led legislative chamber on the West Coast as Dhingra faces Republican challenger Jinyoung Lee Englund to see who will serve the last year of a four-year term left vacant by last year's death of Republican Sen. Andy Hill. The winner will need to run again in 2018.

Image via Elaine Thompson/Associated Press