Washington State Senate

Washington  State Senate

Summary

The Washington State Senate is the upper house of the Washington State Legislature. The body consists of 49 members, each representing a district with a population of nearly 160,000. The State Senate meets at the Legislative Building in Olympia.

As with the lower House of Representatives, state senators serve without term limits, though senators serve four-year terms. Senators are elected from the same legislative districts as House members, with each district electing one senator and two representatives. Terms are staggered so that half the Senate is up for reelection every two years.

Like other upper houses of state and territorial legislatures and the federal U.S. Senate, the state senate can confirm or reject gubernatorial appointments to the state cabinet, commissions and boards.

Government Website    Wikipedia page

OnAir Post: Washington State Senate

Wikipedia

The Washington State Senate is the upper house of the Washington State Legislature. The body consists of 49 members, each representing a district with a population of nearly 160,000. The State Senate meets at the Legislative Building in Olympia.

As with the lower House of Representatives, state senators serve without term limits, though senators serve four-year terms. Senators are elected from the same legislative districts as House members, with each district electing one senator and two representatives. Terms are staggered so that half the Senate is up for reelection every two years.

Like other upper houses of state and territorial legislatures and the federal U.S. Senate, the state senate can confirm or reject gubernatorial appointments to the state cabinet, commissions and boards.

Leadership

The state constitution allows both houses to write their own rules of procedure (article II, section 9) and to elect their own officers (article II, section 10) with the proviso that the lieutenant governor may preside in each house and has a deciding vote in the Senate, but that the Senate may choose a "temporary president" in the absence of the lieutenant governor. The prevailing two-party system has produced current senate rules to the effect that the president pro tempore is nominated by the majority party caucus and elected by the entire Senate.

Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck is constitutionally the president of the Senate. The current president pro tempore is Steve Conway. The majority leader is Democrat Jamie Pedersen. The minority leader is Republican John Braun.

Composition

AffiliationParty
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
DemocraticRepublicanVacant
End of previous legislature2920490
Begin 69th legislature3019490
Latest voting share61.2%38.8%

Members (2025-2027, 69th Legislature)

DistrictSenatorPartyResidence[2]Counties representedFirst electedNext election
1Derek StanfordDemocraticMaltbyKing (part), Snohomish (part)2019†2028
2Jim McCuneRepublicanGrahamPierce (part), Thurston (part)20202028
3Marcus RiccelliDemocraticSpokaneSpokane (part)20242028
4Leonard ChristianRepublicanSpokane ValleySpokane (part)20242028
5Bill RamosDemocraticIssaquahKing (part)20242028
6Jeff HolyRepublicanSpokaneSpokane (part)20182026
7Shelly ShortRepublicanAddyDouglas (part), Ferry, Grant (part), Okanogan (part), Pend Oreille, Spokane (part), Stevens2017†2026
8Matt BoehnkeRepublicanKennewickBenton (part), Franklin (part)20222026
9Mark SchoeslerRepublicanRitzvilleAdams (part), Asotin, Columbia, Franklin (part), Garfield, Lincoln, Spokane (part), Whitman20042028
10Ron MuzzallRepublicanOak HarborIsland, Skagit (part), Snohomish (part)2019†2028
11Bob HasegawaDemocraticSeattleKing (part)20122028
12Keith GoehnerRepublicanDrydenChelan, Douglas (part), King (part), Snohomish (part)20242028
13Judy WarnickRepublicanMoses LakeGrant (part), Kittitas, Yakima (part)20142026
14Curtis KingRepublicanYakimaKlickitat, Yakima (part)2007^2028
15Nikki TorresRepublicanPascoAdams (part), Benton (part), Franklin (part), Grant (part), Yakima (part)20222026
16Perry DozierRepublicanWaitsburgBenton (part), Walla Walla20202028
17Paul HarrisRepublicanVancouverClark (part), Skamania20242028
18Adrian CortesDemocraticLa CenterClark (part)20242028
19Jeff WilsonRepublicanLongviewCowlitz (part), Grays Harbor (part), Lewis (part), Pacific, Thurston (part), Wahkiakum20202028
20John BraunRepublicanCentraliaClark (part), Cowlitz (part), Lewis (part), Thurston (part)20122028
21Marko LiiasDemocraticLynnwoodSnohomish (part)2014†2026
22Jessica BatemanDemocraticOlympiaThurston (part)20242028
23Drew HansenDemocraticBainbridge IslandKitsap (part)2023†2028
24Mike ChapmanDemocraticPort AngelesClallam, Grays Harbor (part), Jefferson2024#2028
25Chris GildonRepublicanPuyallupPierce (part)20202028
26Deborah KrishnadasanDemocraticGig HarborKitsap (part), Pierce (part)2024†2025 (special)
27Yasmin TrudeauDemocraticTacomaPierce (part)2021†2028
28T'wina NoblesDemocraticFircrestPierce (part)20202028
29Steve ConwayDemocraticTacomaPierce (part)20102026
30Claire WilsonDemocraticAuburnKing (part)20182026
31Phil FortunatoRepublicanAuburnKing (part), Pierce (part)2017†2026
32Jesse SalomonDemocraticShorelineKing (part), Snohomish (part)20182026
33Tina OrwallDemocraticDes MoinesKing (part)2024†2025 (special)
34Emily AlvaradoDemocraticWest SeattleKing (part)2025†2025 (special)
35Drew MacEwenRepublicanUnionKitsap (part), Mason, Thurston (part)20222026
36Noel FrameDemocraticSeattleKing (part)20222026
37Rebecca SaldañaDemocraticSeattleKing (part)2016†2026
38June RobinsonDemocraticEverettSnohomish (part)2020†2026
39Keith WagonerRepublicanSedro-WoolleySkagit (part), Snohomish (part)2018†2028
40Liz LovelettDemocraticAnacortesSan Juan, Skagit (part), Whatcom (part)2019†2028
41Lisa WellmanDemocraticMercer IslandKing (part)20162028
42Sharon ShewmakeDemocraticBellinghamWhatcom (part)2022#2026
43Jamie PedersenDemocraticSeattleKing (part)2013†2026
44John LovickDemocraticMill CreekSnohomish (part)2021†2026
45Manka DhingraDemocraticRedmondKing (part)2017^2026
46Javier ValdezDemocraticSeattleKing (part)20222026
47Claudia KauffmanDemocraticKentKing (part)20222026
48Vandana SlatterDemocraticBellevueKing (part)2025†2025 (special)
49Annette ClevelandDemocraticVancouverClark (part)20122028
† Originally appointed
^ Originally elected in special election
# Sworn in early to fill vacant seat

Past composition of the Senate

See also

Notes


References

47°02′09″N 122°54′16″W / 47.0358°N 122.9045°W / 47.0358; -122.9045

    Discuss

    OnAir membership is required. The lead Moderator for the discussions is Scott Joy. We encourage civil, honest, and safe discourse. For more information on commenting and giving feedback, see our Comment Guidelines.

    This is an open discussion on the contents of this post.

    Home Forums Open Discussion

    Viewing 0 reply threads
    Viewing 0 reply threads
    • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
    Skip to toolbar