State Senate races -- Fain is losing, Ericksen barely hanging on

Businesswoman and Democratic challenger Mona Das has expanded her lead over Republican State Sen. Joe Fain to 548 votes, giving Democrats an almost-certain pickup of a second seat in the Legislature's upper chamber.

The 47th District, in southeast King County, appears to have flipped two legislative seats to the Democrats.

A longtime aide to U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, Debra Entenman has ousted Republican State Rep. Mark Hargrove, leading Hargrove by 2,700 votes.

Fain was hit in late September with the allegation that he raped a woman in her Washington, D.C., hotel room a decade ago. He denied the charge and called for an investigation. Senate leaders announced Thursday that an investigator will be hired.

The state's three tightest legislative battles are at the northern corner of the state in Whatcom County's 42nd District, and involve a controversial lawmaker, oil industry defender and Trump supporter.

State Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, co-chair of the 2016 Trump campaign in Washington, clings to a 72-vote lead over Bellingham City Council member Pinky Vargas. The county says it has only 34 votes left to count.

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