Top-two primary
All candidates run in one primary regardless of party and the two with the most votes advance, so two candidates of the same party can meet in November. The forecast then marks the seat as safe for that party.
Washington › Washington State Senate · November 3, 2026 · Updated Oct 16, 2026
Washington Legislative District 7
Top twoShelly Short has no major-party opponent.
Shelly Short has no major-party opponent.
How this race is decided
Staggered Senate
Senators serve four-year terms; about half the seats are on the ballot each election.
The candidates
RepublicanIncumbent
Shelly Short
- Experience
- State legislature
Independent
Ronald McCoy
The district
Lean R+33: how much more Democratic or Republican than the nation it votes for president.
Presidential vote
Precinct results re-aggregated to the current district lines.
Who lives here
- Population
- 164,775
- People per km²
- 5
- Adults with a B.A.+
- 22%
- White, no degree
- 59%of adults
- White 71%
- Hispanic 17%
- Black 1%
- Asian 1%
- Other / multiracial 11%
American Community Survey 2020–2024, aggregated from census tracts.
Past results
Results in the same-numbered district; earlier elections may have used different lines.
2024 President Vote in this district
83,408 two-party votes · R+33.0 · R+31.5 vs. the nation✓ Donald Trump (R)66.5%
Kamala Harris (D)33.5%
2022 Earlier district lines
53,299 votes · Uncontested by the other party✓ Shelly Short (R)96.9%
Write-In (—)3.1%
2020 President Vote in this district
101,115 two-party votes · R+33.1 · R+37.7 vs. the nation✓ Donald Trump (R)66.6%
Joe Biden (D)33.4%
2018 Earlier district lines
69,553 votes · R+38.0✓ Shelly Short (R)69.0%
Karen Hardy (D)31.0%
2016 President Vote in this district
71,752 two-party votes · R+32.6 · R+34.8 vs. the nation✓ Donald Trump (R)66.3%
Hillary Clinton (D)33.7%
2014 Earlier district lines
45,314 votes · Uncontested by the other party✓ Brian Dansel (R)72.2%
Tony Booth (R)27.8%