Washington State Senate

{{Short description|Upper house of the Washington State Legislature}} {{Redirect|Washington Senate|the Senate in Washington, D.C.|United States Senate}} {{Use American English|date=April 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2012}} {{Infobox legislature | background_color = {{party color|Democratic Party (US)}} | name = Washington State Senate | term_limits = None | new_session = January 9, 2023 | legislature = Washington State Legislature | coa_pic = Wash-StateSenate-Logo-2017.png | house_type = Upper chamber | leader1_type = President | leader1 = Denny Heck (D) | election1 = January 13, 2021 | leader2_type = President pro tempore | leader2 = Steve Conway (D) | election2 = January 13, 2025 | leader3_type = Majority Leader | leader3 = Jamie Pedersen (D) | election3 = January 13, 2025 | leader4_type = Minority Leader | leader4 = John Braun (R) | election4 = November 30, 2020 | term_length = 4 years | authority = Article II, Washington State Constitution | salary = $67,688/year + per diem <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://salaries.wa.gov/salary |title=Salary Information &#124; Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials |website=salaries.wa.gov}}</ref> | members = 49 |structure1 = WashingtonStateSenate69.svg | structure1_res = 250px | political_groups1 = '''Majority''' *{{nowrap|{{Color box|#0000FF|border=darkgray}} Democratic (30)}} '''Minority''' *{{nowrap|{{Color box|#FF0000|border=darkgray}} Republican (19)}} <!--'''Vacant''' *{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Vacant (US)}}|border=silver}} Vacant (1)}}--> | last_election1 = November 5, 2024<br />(25 seats) | next_election1 = November 3, 2026<br />(24 seats) | redistricting = Washington Redistricting Commission | session_room = Washington State Senate chamber.jpg | meeting_place = State Senate Chamber<br/>Washington State Capitol<br/>Olympia, Washington | website = [https://leg.wa.gov/about-the-legislature/senate/ leg.wa.gov/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 approximately 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, and 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 == {|class=wikitable style="text-align:center" |-valign=bottom !rowspan=3|Affiliation !colspan=2|Party <div style="font-size:80%">(Shading indicates majority caucus)</div> !rowspan=3|Total ! scope="col" | |-style="height:5px" |style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" | |style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" | | style="background:black" | |- !Democratic !Republican !Vacant |- ! nowrap="" style="font-size:80%" |End of previous legislature | {{party shading/Democratic}} |29 |20 !49 |0 |- |colspan=6| |- ! nowrap="" style="font-size:80%" |Begin 69th legislature | {{party shading/Democratic}} |30 |rowspan=3|19 !49 |0 |- ! nowrap="" style="font-size:80%" |April 19, 2025<ref>Democrat Bill Ramos (District 5) died. [https://mynorthwest.com/mynorthwest-politics/state-senator-bill-ramos-died/4078016]</ref> | {{party shading/Democratic}} |29 !48 |1 |- ! nowrap="" style="font-size:80%" |June 3, 2025<ref>Democrat Victoria Hunt was appointed to succeed Ramos. [https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/06/04/replacement-chosen-for-washington-state-senator-who-died/]</ref> | {{party shading/Democratic}} |30 !49 |0 |- !Latest voting share !{{party shading/Democratic}}|{{percentage|30|49|1}} !{{percentage|19|49|1}} !colspan=2| |- |} ===Members (2025–2027, 69th Legislature)=== {|class="wikitable sortable" |- !District !Name !Party !Residence<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sos.wa.gov/_assets/elections/--ed05-low-res-8.31.pdf |title=Voter's Pamphlet, Washington State Elections, November 2, 2021 |work=Washington Secretary of State |access-date=2021-12-10}}</ref> !Counties !First Election !Next Election |- |1 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Derek|Stanford|dab=politician}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Maltby |King (part), Snohomish (part) |2019{{efn |name=Appointed |Originally appointed.}} |2028 |- |2 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Jim|McCune}} |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |Graham |Pierce (part), Thurston (part) |2020 |2028 |- |3 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Marcus|Riccelli}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Spokane |Spokane (part) |2024 |2028 |- |4 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Leonard|Christian}} |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |Spokane Valley |Spokane (part) |2024 |2028 |- |5 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Victoria|Hunt}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Issaquah |King (part) |2025{{efn |name=Appointed}} |2028 |- |6 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Jeff|Holy}} |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |Spokane |Spokane (part) |2018 |2026 |- |7 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Shelly|Short}} |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |Addy |Douglas (part), Ferry, Grant (part), Okanogan (part), Pend Oreille, Spokane (part), Stevens |2017{{efn |name=Appointed}} |2026 |- |8 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Matt|Boehnke}} |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |Kennewick |Benton (part), Franklin (part) |2022 |2026 |- |9 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Mark|Schoesler}} |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |Ritzville |Adams (part), Asotin, Columbia, Franklin (part), Garfield, Lincoln, Spokane (part), Whitman |2004 |2028 |- |10 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Ron|Muzzall}} |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |Oak Harbor |Island, Skagit (part), Snohomish (part) |2019{{efn |name=Appointed}} |2028 |- |11 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Bob|Hasegawa}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Seattle |King (part) |2012 |2028 |- |12 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Keith|Goehner}} |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |Dryden |Chelan, Douglas (part), King (part), Snohomish (part) |2024 |2028 |- |13 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Judy|Warnick}} |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |Moses Lake |Grant (part), Kittitas, Yakima (part) |2014 |2026 |- |14 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Curtis|King|dab=politician}} |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |Yakima |Klickitat, Yakima (part) |2007{{efn |name=Special |Originally elected in a special election.}} |2028 |- |15 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Nikki|Torres}} |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |Pasco |Adams (part), Benton (part), Franklin (part), Grant (part), Yakima (part) |2022 |2026 |- |16 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Perry|Dozier}} |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |Waitsburg |Benton (part), Walla Walla |2020 |2028 |- |17 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Paul|Harris|dab=politician}} |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |Vancouver |Clark (part), Skamania |2024 |2028 |- |18 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Adrian|Cortes|dab=politician}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |La Center |Clark (part) |2024 |2028 |- |19 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Jeff|Wilson|dab=Washington politician}} |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |Longview |Cowlitz (part), Grays Harbor (part), Lewis (part), Pacific, Thurston (part), Wahkiakum |2020 |2028 |- |20 |{{#invoke:sort|name|John|Braun}} |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |Centralia |Clark (part), Cowlitz (part), Lewis (part), Thurston (part) |2012 |2028 |- |21 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Marko|Liias}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Lynnwood |Snohomish (part) |2014{{efn |name=Appointed}} |2026 |- |22 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Jessica|Bateman}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Olympia |Thurston (part) |2024 |2028 |- |23 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Drew|Hansen}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Bainbridge Island |Kitsap (part) |2023{{efn |name=Appointed}} |2028 |- |24 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Mike|Chapman|dab=politician}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Port Angeles |Clallam, Grays Harbor (part), Jefferson |2024{{efn |name=Early Vacant |Sworn in early to fill vacant seat.}} |2028 |- |25 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Chris|Gildon}} |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |Puyallup |Pierce (part) |2020 |2028 |- |26 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Deborah|Krishnadasan}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Gig Harbor |Kitsap (part), Pierce (part) |2024{{efn |name=Appointed}} |2026 |- |27 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Yasmin|Trudeau}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Tacoma |Pierce (part) |2021{{efn |name=Appointed}} |2028 |- |28 |{{#invoke:sort|name|T'wina|Nobles}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Fircrest |Pierce (part) |2020 |2028 |- |29 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Steve|Conway|dab=politician}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Tacoma |Pierce (part) |2010 |2026 |- |30 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Claire|Wilson|dab=politician}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Auburn |King (part) |2018 |2026 |- |31 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Phil|Fortunato}} |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |Auburn |King (part), Pierce (part) |2017{{efn |name=Appointed}} |2026 |- |32 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Jesse|Salomon}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Shoreline |King (part), Snohomish (part) |2018 |2026 |- |33 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Tina|Orwall}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Des Moines |King (part) |2024{{efn |name=Appointed}} |2026 |- |34 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Emily|Alvarado|dab=politician}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |West Seattle |King (part) |2025{{efn |name=Appointed}} |2026 |- |35 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Drew|MacEwen}} |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |Union |Kitsap (part), Mason, Thurston (part) |2022 |2026 |- |36 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Noel|Frame}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Seattle |King (part) |2022 |2026 |- |37 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Rebecca|Saldaña}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Seattle |King (part) |2016{{efn |name=Appointed}} |2026 |- |38 |{{#invoke:sort|name|June|Robinson}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Everett |Snohomish (part) |2020{{efn |name=Appointed}} |2026 |- |39 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Keith|Wagoner}} |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |Sedro-Woolley |Skagit (part), Snohomish (part) |2018{{efn |name=Appointed}} |2028 |- |40 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Liz|Lovelett}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Anacortes |San Juan, Skagit (part), Whatcom (part) |2019{{efn |name=Appointed}} |2028 |- |41 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Lisa|Wellman}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Mercer Island |King (part) |2016 |2028 |- |42 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Sharon|Shewmake}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Bellingham |Whatcom (part) |2022{{efn |name=Early Vacant}} |2026 |- |43 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Jamie|Pedersen}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Seattle |King (part) |2013{{efn |name=Appointed}} |2026 |- |44 |{{#invoke:sort|name|John|Lovick|dab=politician}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Mill Creek |Snohomish (part) |2021{{efn |name=Appointed}} |2026 |- |45 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Manka|Dhingra}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Redmond |King (part) |2017{{efn |name=Special}} |2026 |- |46 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Javier|Valdez}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Seattle |King (part) |2022 |2026 |- |47 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Claudia|Kauffman}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Kent |King (part) |2022 |2026 |- |48 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Vandana|Slatter}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Bellevue |King (part) |2025{{efn |name=Appointed}} |2026 |- |49 |{{#invoke:sort|name|Annette|Cleveland}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |Vancouver |Clark (part) |2012 |2028 |}

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" /><div class="reflist reflist-lower-alpha"><references group="lower-alpha" /></div>

== Past composition of the Senate == {{Main|Political party strength in Washington (state)}}

==See also== *Washington State Capitol *Washington State Legislature *Washington House of Representatives * List of Washington state legislatures

==References== <references />

==External links== *[http://www1.leg.wa.gov/Senate Washington State Senate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831155945/http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/ |date=August 31, 2009 }} *[http://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/ Map of Legislative Districts]

{{Washington State Senate}} {{Washington elections}} {{United States legislatures}} {{Washington}} {{#invoke:Authority control|authorityControl}}

{{#invoke:Coordinates|coord|47.0358|-122.9045|type:landmark_region:US-WA|display=title}}

Category:Washington State Senate Category:Government of Washington (state) Category:State upper houses in the United States