Ryu Leads Salomon in Tight 32nd District Race
Early returns show Cindy Ryu narrowly ahead of incumbent Jesse Salomon in the state Senate contest for Washington's 32nd District.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Legislative Policy
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Cindy Ryu held a narrow lead over Jesse Salomon in the 32nd District state Senate race, with 49.6% of the vote to Salomon's 48.7% in initial results Tuesday night. In the House Position 1 race, Danica Noble led Keith Scully 50.1% to 48.1%.
Why it matters
The margins are slim enough that the outcome may hinge on ballots still being counted, and the result will determine who represents the district in the Legislature. Election results will be updated throughout the week as additional ballots are tallied.
Ryu leads Salomon 49.6% to 48.7%, and Noble leads Scully 50.1% to 48.1%, based on initial returns Tuesday night. The state will certify final results by Dec. 3, and the margins remain within a range that later ballot counts could shift.
The players
Cindy Ryu
Ryu is a Democratic state representative from Shoreline who has served in the Washington House since 2011 and is seeking a seat in the state Senate.
Jesse Salomon
Salomon is a Democratic state senator from Seattle who has served in the Washington Senate since 2019 and is seeking reelection.
The details
Ryu has served in the House since 2011 and announced in 2025 that she would challenge Salomon, who has served in the state Senate since 2019. Noble and Scully were the top two vote getters in the August primary, which narrowed six Position 1 candidates to two.
Timeline
August 2026: Primary election narrowed six Position 1 candidates to two.
2025: Ryu announced she would run against Salomon.
Nov. 3, 2026: Initial election results came in Tuesday night.
Dec. 3, 2026: The state certifies election results.
Jan. 11, 2027: Legislators begin their next terms.
Legislative Policy Context
The close margins in the 32nd District follow the state's established election calendar, in which certification of results comes weeks after ballots are counted and before legislators take office in January. Legislators in this district earn $72,494 per year, and the outcome will shape the composition of the Senate and House delegation for the next term.
Residents of the 32nd District will have a state senator and representatives who take office in January, and the close results mean the final certified count will determine which candidates serve. Voters who want to track the outcome can follow updated returns as additional ballots are counted through the week.
The takeaway
Close races can change as more ballots are counted, so the initial lead in the 32nd District is not final until the state certifies results. Following official updates through the certification date gives the clearest picture of who will hold these seats.
What happens next
The state will certify election results by Dec. 3, and legislators will begin their next terms Jan. 11, 2027.
Further reading
Explore more coverage of Legislative Policy in Washington state.
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