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While incumbent Kim Schrier holds 52% of the vote in Washington’s 8th Congressional District, challenger Jesse Jensen remains optimistic as more ballots are counted in the days ahead.

Jensen tells KTTH’s Jason Rantz his campaign is inching closer with every results update. He held 47% of the vote on Thursday, but gained more votes on Friday.

“We’re closing the gap,” Jensen said. “We picked up about 1,500 to 1,600 votes and we still have a long way to go.”

He says they expect to claw back in locations outside of King County — namely in Pierce, Chelan, and Kittitas Counties.

“The pathway to victory is there,” Jensen said. “It looks more like a sidewalk than Interstate 5, but it’s still there and I’m happy to walk on a sidewalk.”

Jensen said the Republic Party is feeling positive about the outlook. He received a text from Congressman Tom Emmer, Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, on Wednesday night to give him words of encouragement.

“We’re in this for the long haul,” Jensen said.