If Republicans scored big victories nationwide, at least at the state level, local voters decided for the most part to stick with the Democrats.

For example, voters appear to have moved State Rep. Maralyn Chase, D-Shoreline, to the District 32 state senate seat. With 15,637 ballots or 58 percent of the combined votes in King and Snohomish counties, Chase was defeating Kenmore Mayor David Baker, who was earning a total of 11,297 votes, or 41.9 percent.

Chase and numerous local Democrats held an election-night gathering at the Shoreline Senior Center, where, at the podium, Chase and others thanked their supporters.

Chase was not available for further comment as of deadline for this issue.

While essentially conceding defeat, Baker believes there are some “extremely tough” times ahead for those on their way to Olympia, thanks partly to the table set by the election.

Again results are far from final, but voters appear to have turned down a state income tax and repealed taxes on soda and candy while passing an initiative requiring any new tax increases be approved by a two-thirds majority of legislators. Baker said dollars are simply going to be scarce.

Regarding the election results, Baker described Chase as a worthy opponent.

“I was pleased to have this opportunity,” he said. “I look forward to continuing to serve the people of Kenmore.”

While he and Chase traded a few barbs during the election, Baker said he has no worries about being able to work with his former opponent in the future.

“I have every confidence that she will be an effective leader,” Baker added.

This was not Baker’s first try for state office, but he said he has no plans to run in the future.

“Then again, I had no plans to run this time,” Baker said, laughing.

A number of additional Democrats at that Shoreline celebration appear bound for the state capital.

In the District 32, Position 2 race, incumbent State Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park, was easily beating Republican challenger Gary Gagliardi according to early results. In combined voting from King and Snohomish counties, Kagi had earned 16,611 votes, or 61.9 percent, to Gagliardi’s 10,196 votes, or 38 percent.

Among local state legislators, Kagi was the only incumbent running for the same position she now holds. Several area representatives simply chose not to run for re-election, while Chase’s try for the state senate left her District 32, Position 1 representative seat wide open. Shoreline Mayor Cindy Ryu appears poised to fill that vacancy, defeating Republican candidate Art Coday by a margin of 15,674 to 11,130, or 58.4 percent to 41.5 percent, in overall balloting.

As of deadline for this issue, the race was extremely close, but Bothell’s Heidi Munson may be the only Northshore Republican to win a state-level seat. Munson was holding onto a thin lead over Mountlake Terrace Democrat Luis Moscoso, 13,961 to 13,557, or 50.7 to 49.2 percent, again in voting from both counties. Munson said she is not worried about being the lone local Republican in Olympia.

“I’m a realist,” she said. “I don’t waste a lot of time wondering about what might have been.”

Munson said she was pleased with the showing of her party across the country, but added Republicans now need to follow through on their promises.

“The question is whether they will stick with their Republican principles,” Munson said, adding that not living up to those values is what allowed Democrats to take control of the country a few years back.

The last area race featured two more Bothell residents fighting for the District 1, Position 1 seat about to be vacated by State Rep. Al O’Brien, D-Mountlake Terrace. O’Brien endorsed Democrat Derek Stanford to replace him, and Stanford — in total votes from both counties — had posted 14,421 ballots, or 51.3 percent, compared to Republican challenger Dennis Richter’s 13,458 votes, or 48.2 percent.

Neither could be reached for comment after early results were posted.

For the only local issue on the ballot, the second time might do the trick for supporters of the EMS levy floated by Snohomish County Fire District 7. The issue would replace a $1.7 million property tax levy that expires this year.

In the August primary, 58 percent of eligible voters approved the issue, but state law requires such levies earn at least 60 percent of the total vote.

This time, in early results, the levy was meeting the 60-percent requirement, taking in 6,573 votes, or 64.6 percent of the ballots. If approved, the levy will cost district property owners 50 cents per $1,000 in property valuation. The district currently collects 25 cents per $1,000.