Washington State Senate elections

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State Legislatures State legislative elections, 2025 Poll opening and closing times

This page displays election information for the Washington State Senate.

Elections

Washington state senators serve staggered four-year terms, with half of the chamber up for election every two years. Washington holds elections for its legislature in even years.

2026

See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2026

Elections for the Washington State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026. The primary is August 4, 2026. The filing deadline is May 8, 2026.

2024

See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2024

Elections for the Washington State Senate took place in 2024. The general election was on November 5, 2024. The primary was August 6, 2024. The filing deadline was May 10, 2024.

In the 2024 elections, Democrats increased their majority in the Washington State Senate to 30-19.

Washington State Senate
Party		As of November 5, 2024	After November 6, 2024
	Democratic Party	28	30
	Republican Party	20	19
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		49	49

2022

See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2022

Elections for the Washington State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for August 2, 2022. The filing deadline was May 20, 2022.

Heading into the 2022 elections, Democrats held a 29-20 majority in the Washington State Senate. No change to the partisan balance of the chamber occurred in the election.

Washington State Senate
Party		As of November 8, 2022	After November 9, 2022
	Democratic Party	29	29
	Republican Party	20	20
Total		49	49

2020

See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2020

Elections for the office of Washington State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for August 4, 2020. The filing deadline was May 15, 2020.

Heading into the election, Democrats held a 29-20 majority. Democrats retained their 29-20 majority in the election.

Washington State Senate
Party		As of November 3, 2020	After November 4, 2020
	Democratic Party	29	29
	Republican Party	20	20
Total		49	49

2018

See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2018

Elections for the Washington State Senate took place in 2018. A top-two primary election took place on August 7, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was May 18, 2018.

In the 2018 elections, Democrats increased their majority in the Washington State Senate from 26-23 to 29-20.

Washington State Senate
Party		As of November 6, 2018	After November 7, 2018
	Democratic Party	26	29
	Republican Party	23	20
Total		49	49

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. A total of 26 seats out of the 49 seats in the Washington State Senate were up for election in 2016.

The Washington State Senate was one of 20 battleground chambers in 2016. Democrats gained a 25-24 majority as a result of the 2016 elections. However, Republicans maintained control of the chamber due to a Democratic senator who announced plans to caucus with Republicans.

Washington State Senate
Party		As of November 7, 2016	After November 8, 2016
	Democratic Party	24	25
	Republican Party	25	24
Total		49	49

Click [show] to see election information dating back to 2000

2014 See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2014 Elections for the office of Washington State Senate took place in 2014. The primary election was held on August 5, 2014, and the general election was held on November 4, 2014. The candidate filing deadline was May 17, 2014. A total of 25 seats out of the 49 seats in the Washington State Senate were up for election in 2014. The Washington State Senate was one of 20 state legislative battleground chambers in 2014. Although Democrats had a 25-24 majority going into the 2014 election, a coalition gave Republicans control of the chamber. After the election, Republicans gained an outright 25-24 majority. Washington State Senate Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014      Democratic Party 25 24      Republican Party 24 25 Total 49 49 Note: Although Democrats had a numerical majority going into the 2014 election, a coalition gave Republicans control of the chamber. 2012 See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2012 Elections for the office of Washington State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on August 7, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was June 8, 2012. A total of 25 seats out of the 49 seats in the Washington State Senate were up for election in 2012. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 27-22 majority. Democrats lost one seat in the election, giving them a 26-23 majority. Washington State Senate Party As of November 5, 2012 After the 2012 Election      Democratic Party 27 26      Republican Party 22 23 Total 49 49 The table below details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election in 2012. 2012 Margin of Victory, Washington State Senate District Winner Margin of Victory Total Votes Top Opponent District 17 Don Benton 0.1% 54,998 Tim Probst District 10 Barbara Bailey 5.6% 71,588 Mary Margaret Haugen District 41 Steve Litzow 8.1% 69,048 Maureen Judge District 5 Mark Mullet 8.9% 67,548 Brad Toft District 20 John Braun 10.9% 54,018 Dan Swecker District 1 Rosemary McAuliffe 11% 67,248 Dawn McCravey District 2 Randi Becker 13.6% 56,232 Bruce Lachney District 27 Jeannie Darneille 14.6% 54,007 John Connelly District 39 Kirk Pearson 15.2% 58,052 Scott Olson District 3 Andy Billig 15.7% 51,185 Nancy McLaughlin 2010 See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2010 Elections for the office of Washington State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on August 17, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was June 11, 2010. A total of 25 seats out of the 49 seats in the Washington State Senate were up for election in 2010. Democrats entered the election with a 31-18 majority. In the election, Democrats lost four seats, giving them a 27-22 majority. Washington State Senate Party As of November 1, 2010 After the 2010 Election      Democratic Party 31 27      Republican Party 18 22 Total 49 49 2008 See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2008 Elections for the office of Washington State Senate consisted of a primary election on August 19, 2008, and a general election on November 4, 2008. During the 2008 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $6,822,733. The top 10 contributors were: 2008 Donors, Washington State Senate Donor Amount Senate Democratic Campaign Cmte Of Washington $343,472 Washington State Republican Party $238,525 Senate Republican Campaign Cmte Of Washington $211,320 Washington State Democratic Party $125,536 Washington State Dental Association $42,000 Washington Beverage Association $36,900 Shannon, Ted $35,987 Pierce County Republican Party $33,879 Holland America Line $32,800 Washington Federation Of State Employees $32,200 2006 See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2006 Elections for the office of Washington State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 19, 2006, and a general election on November 7, 2006. During the 2006 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $7,241,049. The top 10 contributors were: 2006 Donors, Washington State Senate Donor Amount Senate Democratic Campaign Cmte $351,479 Washington State Democratic Party $274,726 Senate Republican Campaign Cmte/SRCC $252,418 Oemig, Eric W $70,871 Marr, Christopher J $68,819 Benson Surplus Account, Brad $45,000 Washington Health Care Association $44,650 Washington State Dental Association $32,775 Washington Bankers Association $31,600 Tom, Rodney $30,400 2004 See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2004 Elections for the office of Washington State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 14, 2004, and a general election on November 2, 2004. During the 2004 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $6,993,740. The top 10 contributors were: 2004 Donors, Washington State Senate Donor Amount Washington State Democratic Party $384,148 Senate Democratic Campaign Cmte Of Washington $351,039 Washington State Republican Party $199,192 Senate Republican Campaign Cmte Of Washington $171,931 Weinstein, Brian D $59,456 Washington Restaurant Association $33,625 Washington State Auto Dealers Association $32,125 Washington State Dental Association $31,575 Puget Sound Energy $29,800 Pemco Mutual Insurance $28,800 2002 See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2002 Elections for the office of Washington State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 17, 2002, and a general election on November 5, 2002. During the 2002 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $4,496,407. The top 10 contributors were: 2002 Donors, Washington State Senate Donor Amount Washington State Democratic Party $355,369 Senate Democratic Campaign Cmte Of Washington $300,541 Washington State Republican Party $152,655 Senate Republican Campaign Cmte Of Washington $130,962 Public School Employees Of Washington Local 1948 $26,525 AT&T $23,100 Washington Society Of CPAs $21,625 Washington State Dental Association $21,275 Roosevelt Fund $21,250 42nd Leg District Democrats $21,000 2000 See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2000 Elections for the office of Washington State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 19, 2000, and a general election on November 7, 2000. During the 2000 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $4,339,111. The top 10 contributors were: 2000 Donors, Washington State Senate Donor Amount Senate Democratic Campaign Cmte $257,475 Washington State Democratic Party $195,848 Washington State Republican Party $172,609 Senate Republican Camp Cmte $166,599 Clark County Democratic Central Cmte $34,295 Washington State Auto Dealers $28,375 Public School Employees Of Washington Local 1948 $24,300 Washington Federation Of State Employees $24,200 Washington Education Association $23,814 Washington Restaurant Association $23,010

Historical party control

Democrats won control of the Washington State Senate in 2018. In 2024, they won a 30-19 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the Washington Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

Washington State Senate election results: 1992-2024

Year	'92	'94	'96	'98	'00	'02	'04	'06	'08	'10	'12	'14	'16	'18	'20	'22	'24
Democrats	28	25	23	28	25	24	26	32	31	27	26	24	25	29	29	29	30
Republicans	21	24	26	21	24	25	23	17	18	22	23	25	24*	20	20	20	19

*A Democrat caucused with Republicans, giving the Republican Party a one-member majority.

Trifecta history

A state government trifecta is a term that describes single party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Washington was under the following types of trifecta control:

• Democratic trifecta: 1993-1994, 2002, 2005-2012, 2018-2023
• Republican trifecta: None
• Divided government: 1992, 1995-2001, 2003-2004, 2013-2017

Washington Party Control: 1992-2024
Eighteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24
Governor	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
Senate	R	D	D	D	D	R	R	D	D	D	D	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
House	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	S	S	S	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D

Footnotes

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