Today's winner: Marriage Equality.

Mary Margaret Haugen (D-10), a conservative, Catholic Democrat from Camano Island, has announced that she'll support a marriage-equality bill sponsored by state Sen. Ed Murray (D-43), giving the legislation the 25 votes it needs for passage.

In a statement, Haugen said:

For some people, this is a simple issue. I envy them. It has not been simple or easy for me.

To some degree, this is generational. Years ago I took exception to my parents’ beliefs on certain social issues, and today my children take exception to some of mine. Times change, even if it makes us uncomfortable. I think we should all be uncomfortable sometime. None of us knows everything, and it’s important to have our beliefs questioned. Only one being in this world is omniscient, and it’s not me.

I have very strong Christian beliefs, and personally I have always said when I accepted the Lord, I became more tolerant of others. I stopped judging people and try to live by the Golden Rule. This is part of my decision. I do not believe it is my role to judge others, regardless of my personal beliefs. It’s not always easy to do that. For me personally, I have always believed in traditional marriage between a man and a woman. That is what I believe, to this day.

But this issue isn’t about just what I believe. It’s about respecting others, including people who may believe differently than I. It’s about whether everyone has the same opportunities for love and companionship and family and security that I have enjoyed.

Four senators---two Republicans, two Democrats---remain undecided on gay marriage. They are: Sen. Joe Fain (R-47), Sen. Brian Hatfield (D-19),Sen. Andy Hill (R-45), and Sen. Paull Shin (D-21). The state House leans much more Democratic, and is likely to pass the bill with a strong Democratic majority.