State Rep. Lauren Arthur (D) bested state Rep. Kevin Corlew (R) in Missouri's 17th District, which covers parts of Clay County north of Kansas City.

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The seat came open when the previous incumbent, state Sen. Ryan Silvey (R), quit to join the Public Service Commission.

Republicans will maintain control of the state Senate by a wide margin. Even with Silvey's departure, the GOP holds 24 of the 34 seats in the upper chamber.

But the results are another hint that Democratic voters are motivated to show up in low-turnout elections — a trend that could prove decisive in November's midterm elections.

The Missouri seat is the ninth Republican-held state legislative seat that Democrats have won in 2018 alone, and the second in the Show Me State. Republicans have won only one Democratic-held seat, a seat in the Pennsylvania state House.