Senator Jamie Pedersen, Chair of Washington Senate Democratic Campaign (WSDC) was optimistic on election night that his caucus would expand it’s majority.

Speaking to Wire publisher DJ Wilson on election night, he said that the WSDC targeted five districts this cycle as potential pick-up opportunities: the 28th, 10th, 25th, 17th, and the 16th.

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As of the latest vote totals, Democrats lead in one of the five. Pierce County’s 28th LD appears to be the most likely pick-up, with T’wina Nobles leading Sen. Steve O’Ban by just over 1.5%.

In Island/Skagit County’s 10th LD, Incumbent Republican Ron Muzzall has taken a 307 vote lead over Island County Commissioner Helen Price Johnson, a Democrat. Following a similar trajectory as the primary, Price Johnson led on election night before Muzzall took and retained the lead.

Republican incumbents currently lead in the 25th, 17th, and 16th LDs. Senate Republicans also look poised to pick up a seat in Southwest Washington’s 19th LD, where incumbent Sen. Dean Takko trails Port of Longview Commissioner Jeff Wilson by almost 10%.

Assuming Wilson holds on to win, Democrats would need to pick up at least two seats in order to expand their majority.

Pedersen also called the expensive intraparty battle in the 5th LD between Sen. Mark Mullet and Ingrid Anderson a “very significant source of frustration.”

Listen to his comments in full here.

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