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
Term limits
None
History
New session started
January 11, 2021
Leadership
President
Denny Heck (D)
since January 13, 2021
President pro tempore
Karen Keiser (D)
since November 15, 2017
Majority Leader
Andy Billig (D)
since November 15, 2017
Minority Leader
John Braun (R)
since November 30, 2020
Structure
Seats49
Political groups
Majority Caucus
  •   Democratic (28)

Minority Caucus

  •   Republican (20)
  •   Democrat Caucusing
    with Republicans (1)
Length of term
4 years
AuthorityArticle II, Washington State Constitution
Salary$56,881/year + per diem [1]
Elections
Last election
November 3, 2020
(24 seats)
Next election
November 8, 2022
(25 seats)
RedistrictingWashington 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 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 Karen Keiser. The Majority leader is Democrat Andy Billig. The Minority Leader is Republican John Braun.

Composition

Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Non-coalition Coalition
Democratic Republican Vacant
End of previous legislature 28 1 20 49 0
Beginning of 67th legislature 28 1 20 49 0
November 22, 2021[2] 27 48 1
December 15, 2021[3] 28 49 0
December 17, 2021[4] 28 19 48 1
January 11, 2022[5] 28 20 49 0
Latest voting share 57% 43%

Members (2021–2023, 67th Legislature)

District Senator Party Residence[6] Counties represented First elected Next election
1Derek StanfordDemocraticMaltbyKing (part), Snohomish (part)2019†2024
2Jim McCuneRepublicanGrahamPierce (part), Thurston (part)20202024
3Andy BilligDemocraticSpokaneSpokane (part)20122024
4Mike PaddenRepublicanSpokane ValleySpokane (part)2011^2024
5Mark MulletDemocraticIssaquahKing (part)2012#2024
6Jeff HolyRepublicanSpokaneSpokane (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), Whitman20042024
10Ron MuzzallRepublicanOak HarborIsland, Skagit (part), Snohomish (part)2019†2024
11Bob HasegawaDemocraticSeattleKing (part)20122024
12Brad HawkinsRepublicanEast WenatcheeChelan, Douglas, Grant (part), Okanogan (part)20162024
13Judy WarnickRepublicanMoses LakeGrant (part), Kittitas, Lincoln, Yakima (part)20142022
14Curtis KingRepublicanYakimaClark (part), Klickitat, Skamania, Yakima (part)2007^2024
15Jim HoneyfordRepublicanSunnysideYakima (part)19982022
16Perry DozierRepublicanWaitsburgBenton (part), Columbia, Franklin (part), Walla Walla20202024
17Lynda WilsonRepublicanVancouverClark (part)20162024
18Ann RiversRepublicanLa CenterClark (part)2012†2024
19Jeff WilsonRepublicanLongviewCowlitz (part), Grays Harbor (part), Lewis (part), Pacific, Wahkiakum20202024
20John BraunRepublicanCentraliaClark (part), Cowlitz (part), Lewis (part), Thurston (part)20122024
21Marko LiiasDemocraticLynnwoodSnohomish (part)2014†2022
22Sam HuntDemocraticOlympiaThurston (part)20162024
23Christine RolfesDemocraticBainbridge IslandKitsap (part)2010†2024
24Kevin Van De WegeDemocraticSequimClallam, Grays Harbor (part), Jefferson20162024
25Chris GildonRepublicanPuyallupPierce (part)20202024
26Emily RandallDemocraticBremertonKitsap (part), Pierce (part)20182022
27Yasmin TrudeauDemocraticTacomaPierce (part)2021†2022
28T'wina NoblesDemocraticFircrestPierce (part)20202024
29Steve ConwayDemocraticTacomaPierce (part)20102022
30Claire WilsonDemocraticAuburnKing (part), Pierce (part)20182022
31Phil FortunatoRepublicanAuburnKing (part), Pierce (part)2017†2022
32Jesse SalomonDemocraticShorelineKing (part), Snohomish (part)20182022
33Karen KeiserDemocraticDes MoinesKing (part)2001†2022
34Joe NguyenDemocraticWhite CenterKing (part)20182022
35Tim SheldonDemocratic*HoodsportKitsap (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†2024
41Lisa WellmanDemocraticMercer IslandKing (part)20162024
42Simon SefzikRepublicanFerndaleWhatcom (part)2022†2022
43Jamie PedersenDemocraticSeattleKing (part)2013†2022
44John LovickDemocraticMill CreekSnohomish (part)2021^2022
45Manka DhingraDemocraticRedmondKing (part)2017^2022
46David FrocktDemocraticSeattleKing (part)2011†2022
47Mona DasDemocraticKentKing (part)20182022
48Patty KudererDemocraticBellevueKing (part)2017†2022
49Annette ClevelandDemocraticVancouverClark (part)20122024
* Sheldon self-identifies as a Democrat but has caucused with the Republicans since December 10, 2012
† Originally appointed
^ Originally elected in special election
# Sworn in early to fill vacant seat

See also

  • Washington State Capitol
  • Washington State Legislature
  • Washington House of Representatives
  • List of Washington state legislatures

References

  1. "Salary Information | Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials". salaries.wa.gov.
  2. Democrat Steve Hobbs (District 44) resigned to become Secretary of State of Washington
  3. Democrat John Lovick (District 44) was appointed
  4. Republican Doug Ericksen (District 42) died of COVID-19
  5. Republican Simon Sefzik (District 42) appointed to fill the district’s vacancy
  6. "Voter's Pamphlet, Washington State Elections, November 2, 2021" (PDF). Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved December 10, 2021.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.