WASHINGTON Democrat Manka Dhingra won Tuesdays special election to a Washington state Senate seat a race that most people wouldnt be paying attention to except that Dhingra just cemented her partys full control of the state government.

While votes are still trickling in since the state conducts elections by mail, it appears Dhingra has resoundingly defeated Republican Jinyoung Lee Englund.

National parties and wealthy donors poured millions of dollars into this otherwise obscure race because of the significance of the seat. Democrats control the governorship and the state House in Washington, but until Tuesday, theyve been one seat short of a majority in the Senate.

That one-seat differential has mattered. Republicans in the Senate have prevented Gov. Jay Inslee from enacting some of his top legislative priorities relating to climate change, voting rights and birth control. They also forced Democrats to compromise on a smaller state budget.