Washington State Senate
Washington State Legislature
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
New session started
January 9, 2023
Leadership
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 (29)

Minority Caucus

Length of term
4 years
AuthorityArticle II, Washington State Constitution
Salary$56,881/year + per diem [1]
Elections
Last election
November 8, 2022
(24 seats)
Next election
November 5, 2024
(25 seats)
RedistrictingWashington Redistricting Commission
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber
Washington State Capitol
Olympia, Washington
Website
Washington State Senate
Members of the Washington State Senate for the 68th Legislature

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 Karen Keiser. The Majority leader is Democrat Andy Billig. The Minority Leader is Republican John Braun.

Composition

Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Democratic Republican Vacant
End of previous legislature 28 1 20 49 0
Begin 68th legislature 29 0 20 49 0
Latest voting share 59.2% 40.8%

Members (2023–2025, 68th Legislature)

District Senator Party Residence[2] 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)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), Whitman20042024
10Ron MuzzallRepublicanOak HarborIsland, Skagit (part), Snohomish (part)2019†2024
11Bob HasegawaDemocraticSeattleKing (part)20122024
12Brad HawkinsRepublicanEast WenatcheeChelan, Douglas (part), King (part), Snohomish (part)20162024
13Judy WarnickRepublicanMoses LakeGrant (part), Kittitas, Yakima (part)20142026
14Curtis KingRepublicanYakimaKlickitat, Yakima (part)2007^2024
15Nikki TorresRepublicanPascoAdams (part), Benton (part), Franklin (part), Grant (part), Yakima (part)20222026
16Perry DozierRepublicanWaitsburgBenton (part), Walla Walla20202024
17Lynda WilsonRepublicanVancouverClark (part), Skamania20162024
18Ann RiversRepublicanLa CenterClark (part)2012†2024
19Jeff WilsonRepublicanLongviewCowlitz (part), Grays Harbor (part), Lewis (part), Pacific, Thurston (part), Wahkiakum20202024
20John BraunRepublicanCentraliaClark (part), Cowlitz (part), Lewis (part), Thurston (part)20122024
21Marko LiiasDemocraticLynnwoodSnohomish (part)2014†2026
22Sam HuntDemocraticOlympiaThurston (part)20162024
23Drew HansenDemocraticBainbridge IslandKitsap (part)2023†2024
24Kevin Van De WegeDemocraticSequimClallam, Grays Harbor (part), Jefferson20162024
25Chris GildonRepublicanPuyallupPierce (part)20202024
26Emily RandallDemocraticBremertonKitsap (part), Pierce (part)20182026
27Yasmin TrudeauDemocraticTacomaPierce (part)2021†2024
28T'wina NoblesDemocraticFircrestPierce (part)20202024
29Steve ConwayDemocraticTacomaPierce (part)20102026
30Claire WilsonDemocraticAuburnKing (part)20182026
31Phil FortunatoRepublicanAuburnKing (part), Pierce (part)2017†2026
32Jesse SalomonDemocraticShorelineKing (part), Snohomish (part)20182026
33Karen KeiserDemocraticDes MoinesKing (part)2001†2026
34Joe NguyenDemocraticWhite CenterKing (part)20182026
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†2024
40Liz LovelettDemocraticAnacortesSan Juan, Skagit (part), Whatcom (part)2019†2024
41Lisa WellmanDemocraticMercer IslandKing (part)20162024
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
48Patty KudererDemocraticBellevueKing (part)2017†2026
49Annette ClevelandDemocraticVancouverClark (part)20122024
† Originally appointed
^ Originally elected in special election
# Sworn in early to fill vacant seat

Past composition of the Senate

See also

References

  1. "Salary Information | Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials". salaries.wa.gov.
  2. "Voter's Pamphlet, Washington State Elections, November 2, 2021" (PDF). Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved December 10, 2021.

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

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