On November 7, 2017, there was a special election to fill the district's state senate seat. Independent Parker Harris was eliminated in the top-two primary, and then Democrat Manka Dhingra defeated Republican Jinyoung Englund by 11 points. The victory gave control of the Washington State Senate to the Democrats.[3]
^"Democrat Manka Dhingra defeats Republican Jinyoung Lee Englund in state Senate race", The Seattle Times, November 8, 2017. Accessed February 4, 2024. "Democrats will take control of the state Senate as Manka Dhingra defeated Republican rival Jinyoung Lee Englund in the 45th District state Senate race.... A Republican-led coalition currently holds a one-vote Senate majority, but Dhingra’s victory flips control to the Democrats."