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Mark Schoesler
2005 - Present
2029
20
Mark Schoesler (Republican Party) is a member of the Washington State Senate, representing District 9. He assumed office in 2005. His current term ends on January 8, 2029.
Schoesler (Republican Party) is running for re-election to the Washington State Senate to represent District 9. He declared candidacy for the 2028 election.
Biography
Schoesler earned his A.A.S. in Agribusiness from Spokane Community College. Schoesler worked as a farmer of wheat, canola, and cattle, starting in 1981. He worked for Federal Crop Insurance Corporation from 1977 to 1980. During this time, he also worked for Schoesler Farm Incorporated.[1]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Schoesler was assigned to the following committees:
- Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs Committee
- Ways & Means Committee
- Joint Legislative Unanticipated Revenue Oversight Committee
2021-2022
Schoesler was assigned to the following committees:
- Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs Committee
- Ways & Means Committee, Asst. ranking minority member
2019-2020
Schoesler was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Rules Committee, Ranking Member
- Ways & Means Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Rules |
| • Ways & Means |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Schoesler served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Rules |
| • Ways & Means |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Schoesler served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Water & Rural Economic Development |
| • Rules |
| • Ways & Means |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Schoesler served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Rural Economic Development |
| • Rules |
| • Ways and Means |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2028
See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2028
General election
The general election will occur on November 7, 2028.
General election for Washington State Senate District 9
Incumbent Mark Schoesler is running in the general election for Washington State Senate District 9 on November 7, 2028.
Candidate | ||
 | Mark Schoesler (R) | |
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
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2024
See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for Washington State Senate District 9
Incumbent Mark Schoesler won election in the general election for Washington State Senate District 9 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Schoesler (R) | 95.1 | 57,974 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 4.9 | 2,967 | ||
| Total votes: 60,941 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Washington State Senate District 9
Incumbent Mark Schoesler advanced from the primary for Washington State Senate District 9 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Schoesler (R) | 94.3 | 29,574 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 5.7 | 1,790 | ||
| Total votes: 31,364 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Schoesler in this election.
2020
See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Washington State Senate District 9
Incumbent Mark Schoesler defeated Jenn Goulet in the general election for Washington State Senate District 9 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Schoesler (R) | 65.3 | 43,651 |
 | Jenn Goulet (D) | 34.1 | 22,802 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.5 | 352 | ||
| Total votes: 66,805 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Washington State Senate District 9
Incumbent Mark Schoesler and Jenn Goulet advanced from the primary for Washington State Senate District 9 on August 4, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Schoesler (R) | 67.4 | 26,729 |
| ✔ | | Jenn Goulet (D) | 32.2 | 12,783 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 129 | ||
| Total votes: 39,641 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
- See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Washington State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on August 2, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was May 20, 2016.
Incumbent Mark Schoesler ran unopposed in the Washington State Senate District 9 general election.[2]
| Washington State Senate, District 9 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican |  Mark Schoesler Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Washington Secretary of State | ||
Incumbent Mark Schoesler ran unopposed in the Washington State Senate District 9 top two primary.[3][4]
| Washington State Senate, District 9 Top Two Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Mark Schoesler Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Washington Secretary of State | ||
2012
- See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2012
Schoesler ran in the 2012 election for Washington State Senate District 9. Schoesler ran unopposed in the open primary on August 7, 2012. He won in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[5]
2008
On November 4, 2008, Schoesler ran unopposed and was re-elected for the Ninth District of the Washington State Senate receiving 41,263 votes.
Schoesler raised $153,980 for his campaign.[6]
| Washington State Senate, District 9 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Mark Schoesler (R)
|
41,263 | |||
Campaign themes
2028
Ballotpedia survey responses
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2024
Mark Schoesler did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Mark Schoesler did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Endorsements
Presidential preference
2012
Mark Schoesler endorsed Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election.[7]
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Washington scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
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In 2024, the Washington State Legislature was in session from January 8 to March 7.
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2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Washington State Legislature was in session from January 9 to April 23.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Washington State Legislature was in session from January 10 to March 10.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Washington State Legislature was in session from January 11 to April 25.
|
2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Washington State Legislature was in session from January 13 to March 12.
|
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Washington State Legislature was in session from January 14 through April 28.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Washington State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 8 through March 8.
|
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Washington State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 9 through April 23. There were also special sessions. The first special session was April 24 through May 23. The second special session was May 23 through June 21. The third special session was June 21 through July 20.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the 64th Washington State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 11 through March 10. The legislature held a special session from March 11 to March 29 to pass a supplemental budget.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the 64th Washington State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 12 through April 24. The legislature was in special session from April 29 to May 28, May 29 to June 27 and June 28 to July 10.[8]
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the 63rd Washington State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 13 to March 14.[9]
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the 63rd Washington State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 14 to April 29.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the 62nd Washington State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 9 to March 8.[10]
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2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the 62nd Washington State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 10 through April 24.
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Missed Votes Report
- See also: Washington House of Representatives and Washington State Senate
In March 2014, Washington Votes, a legislative information website, released its annual Missed Votes Report, which provides detailed missed roll call votes on bills for every state legislator during the 2014 legislative session.[11] The 2014 regular session included a total of 515 votes in the State House and 396 in the State Senate, as well as 1,372 bills introduced total in the legislature and 237 bills passed. Out of all roll call votes, 90 individual legislators did not miss any votes. Three individual legislators missed more than 50 votes.[11] Schoesler missed 2 votes in a total of 1017 roll calls.
Freedom Foundation
The Freedom Foundation releases its Big Spender List annually. The Institute ranks all Washington legislators based on their total proposed tax and fee increases. To find each legislator’s total, the Institute adds up the 10-year tax increases or decreases, as estimated by Washington’s Office of Financial Management, of all bills sponsored or co-sponsored by that legislator.[12]
2012
Schoesler proposed a 10-year increase in state taxes and fees of $30.5 million, the 28th highest amount of proposed new taxes and fees of the 46 Washington state senators on the Freedom Foundation’s 2012 Big Spender List.
- See also: Washington Freedom Foundation Legislative Scorecard (2012)
The Freedom Foundation also issued its 2012 Informed Voter Guide for Washington State voters, including a legislative score card documenting how Washington State legislators voted upon bills the Foundation deemed important legislation. The legislation analyzed covered budget, taxation, and pension issues.[13] A 
sign indicates a bill more in line with the Foundation's stated goals, and a 
sign indicates a bill out of step with the Foundation's values. Here's how Schoesler voted on the specific pieces of legislation:
| 2012 Senate Scorecard - Mark Schoesler | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill #6636 (Balanced budget requirement)
|
Bill #5967 (Senate Republicans budget)
|
Bill #6582 (Local transportation tax increases)
|
Bill #6378 (Pension reforms)
| ||||||||
| Y | Y | N | Y | ||||||||
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Mark lives with his wife, Ginger, and they have two children.
Noteworthy events
On August 31, 2024, Sen. Schoesler was arrested and charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol. [14]
On September 12, 2024, Sen. Schoesler pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol in Adams County District Court.[15]
In May 2025, Schoesler said he pleaded guilty to a lesser offense, and the case had been resolved.[16]
See also
2028 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Washington State Senate District 9 |
Officeholder Washington State Senate District 9 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed April 14, 2014
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "General Election Results 2016," accessed December 2, 2016
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "2016 Candidates Who Have Filed," accessed May 23, 2016
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "August 2, 2016 Primary Results," accessed August 25, 2016
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "2012 Primary Candidates," accessed July 16, 2012
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 campaign contributions," accessed April 10, 2014
- ↑ Mitt Romney for President, "Mitt Romney Announces Support of Washington State Elected Officials and Leaders," February 13, 2012
- ↑ Multi State, "2015 State Legislative Session Dates," accessed July 13, 2015
- ↑ StateScape, "Session schedules," accessed July 23, 2014
- ↑ StateScape, "Session schedules," accessed July 23, 2014
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Washington Policy Center, "2014 Missed Votes Report for Legislators Released," March 18, 2014
- ↑ Freedom Freedom Foundation, "2012 Big Spender List," accessed April 10, 2014
- ↑ My Freedom Foundation, "Home," accessed June 18, 2014
- ↑ ‘’Spokane Spokesman-Review‘', "State Sen. Mark Schoesler arrested on suspicion of DUI," September 4, 2024
- ↑ ‘’The Ritzville Adams County Journal‘', "Senator pleads not guilty to DUI," September 12, 2024
- ↑ ‘’The Lewiston Tribune‘', "Schoesler: 2025 Washington session gets a ‘D’ grade," May 16, 2025
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Washington State Senate District 9 2005-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Washington House of Representatives 1993-2002 |
Succeeded by - |
