Washington State Senate

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.

Washington State Senate
Washington State Legislature
Type
Type
Upper chamber
Term limits
None
History
New session started
January 11, 2018
Leadership
Cyrus Habib (D)
since January 11, 2017
President of the Senate pro tempore
Karen Keiser (D)
since November 15, 2017
Majority Leader
Andy Billig (D)
since November 15, 2017
Minority Leader
Mark Schoesler (R)
since November 15, 2017
Structure
Seats49
Political groups
Majority Caucus

Minority Caucus

Length of term
4 years
AuthorityArticle II, Washington State Constitution
Salary$52,766/year + per diem [1]
Elections
Last election
November 6, 2018
(25 seats)
Next election
November 3, 2020
(24 seats)
RedistrictingWashington State Redistricting Commission
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber
Washington State Capitol
Olympia, Washington
Website
Washington State Senate

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 Lieutenant Governor of Washington serves as the President of the Senate, but only casts a vote if required to break a tie. In his or her absence, the President Pro Tempore presides over the Senate. The President Pro Tempore is nominated by the majority party caucus and elected by the entire Senate. The President Pro Tempore is a largely ceremonial position in the Senate. The primary leaders of the respective caucuses are the majority and minority leaders, which are elected by their respective party caucuses.

Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib is constitutionally the President of the Senate. The current President Pro Tempore is Karen Keiser. The Majority leader is Democrat Andy Billig. The Minority Leader is Republican Mark Schoesler.

Composition

Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Non-coalition Coalition
Democratic Republican Vacant
End of previous legislature 25 1 23 49 0
After 2018 election 28 1 20 49 0
Beginning of 66th legislature 27 49 1[2]
February 5, 2019[3] 28 49 0
Latest voting share 57.1% 42.9%

Members (2019–2021, 66th Legislature)

District Senator Party Residence Counties Represented First elected Next election
1Derek StanfordDemocraticMaltbyKing (part), Snohomish (part)2019†2020
2Randi BeckerRepublicanEatonvillePierce (part), Thurston (part)20082020
3Andy BilligDemocraticSpokaneSpokane (part)20122020
4Mike PaddenRepublicanSpokane ValleySpokane (part)2011^2020
5Mark MulletDemocraticIssaquahKing (part)2012#2020
6Jeff Holy RepublicanSpokaneSpokane (part)20182022
7Shelly ShortRepublicanAddyFerry, Okanogan (part), Pend Oreille, Spokane (part), Stevens2017†2022
8Sharon BrownRepublicanKennewickBenton (part)2013†2022
9Mark SchoeslerRepublicanRitzvilleAdams, Asotin, Franklin (part), Garfield, Spokane (part), Whitman20042020
10Ron MuzzallRepublicanOak HarborIsland, Skagit (part), Snohomish (part)2019†2020
11Bob HasegawaDemocraticSeattleKing (part)20122020
12Brad HawkinsRepublicanEast WenatcheeChelan, Douglas, Grant (part), Okanogan (part)20162020
13Judith WarnickRepublicanMoses LakeGrant (part), Kittitas, Lincoln, Yakima (part)20142022
14Curtis KingRepublicanYakimaClark (part), Klickitat, Skamania, Yakima (part)2007^2020
15Jim HoneyfordRepublicanSunnysideYakima (part)19982022
16Maureen WalshRepublicanCollege PlaceBenton (part), Columbia, Franklin (part), Walla Walla20162020
17Lynda WilsonRepublicanVancouverClark (part)20162020
18Ann RiversRepublicanLa CenterClark (part)2012†2020
19Dean TakkoDemocraticLongviewCowlitz (part), Grays Harbor (part), Lewis (part), Pacific, Wahkiakum2015†2020
20John BraunRepublicanCentraliaClark (part), Cowlitz (part), Lewis (part), Thurston (part)20122020
21Marko LiiasDemocraticEverettSnohomish (part)2014†2022
22Sam HuntDemocraticOlympiaThurston (part)20162020
23Christine RolfesDemocraticBainbridge IslandKitsap (part)2010†2020
24Kevin Van De WegeDemocraticSequimClallam, Grays Harbor (part), Jefferson20162020
25Hans ZeigerRepublicanPuyallupPierce (part)2016#2020
26Emily Randall DemocraticGig HarborKitsap (part), Pierce (part)20182022
27Jeannie DarneilleDemocraticTacomaPierce (part)20122020
28Steve O'BanRepublicanTacomaPierce (part)2013†2020
29Steve ConwayDemocraticTacomaPierce (part)20102022
30Claire Wilson DemocraticFederal WayKing (part), Pierce (part)20182022
31Phil FortunatoRepublicanAuburnKing (part), Pierce (part)2017†2022
32Jesse Salomon DemocraticShorelineKing (part), Snohomish (part)20182022
33Karen KeiserDemocraticDes MoinesKing (part)2001†2022
34Joe NguyenDemocraticSeattleKing (part)20182022
35Tim SheldonRepublican* (Dem*)PotlatchKitsap (part), Mason, Thurston (part)1997^2022
36Reuven CarlyleDemocraticSeattleKing (part)2016†2022
37Rebecca SaldañaDemocraticSeattleKing (part)2016†2022
38June RobinsonDemocraticEverettSnohomish (part)2020†2022
39Keith WagonerRepublicanSedro-WoolleyKing (part), Skagit (part), Snohomish (part)2018†2022
40Liz LovelettDemocraticAnacortesSan Juan, Skagit (part), Whatcom (part)2019†2020
41Lisa WellmanDemocraticMercer IslandKing (part)20162020
42Doug EricksenRepublicanFerndaleWhatcom (part)20102022
43Jamie PedersenDemocraticSeattleKing (part)2013†2022
44Steve HobbsDemocraticLake StevensSnohomish (part)20062022
45Manka DhingraDemocraticRedmondKing (part)2017^2022
46David FrocktDemocraticSeattleKing (part)2011†2022
47Mona Das DemocraticRentonKing (part)20182022
48Patty KudererDemocraticClyde HillKing (part)2017†2022
49Annette ClevelandDemocraticVancouverClark (part)20122020
*Sheldon self-identifies as Democrat but has caucused with Republicans since Dec. 10, 2012
†Originally Appointed
^Originally Elected in Special Election
#Sworn in early to fill vacant seat

Past composition of the Senate

Seating Chart

Lt. Governor
Habib
Salomon Nguyen Wagoner Holy
Takko Wellman Cleveland L. Wilson Brown Warnick
Hunt Das Pedersen Hawkins Walsh Zeiger
Mullet Robinson Dhingra Becker Bailey Rivers
Rolfes Billig Liias Short Schoesler Braun
Frockt Saldaña Kuderer Fortunato Padden Ericksen
Keiser Darneille C. Wilson King Sheldon O'Ban Honeyford
Stanford Randall Lovelett Carlyle Van De Wege Conway Hasegawa Hobbs

See also

References

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