Washington state legislative special elections, 2025
Special state legislative • Appellate courts • State ballot measures • Local ballot measures • School boards • Municipal • All local elections by county • How to run for office |
2026 →
← 2024
|
Special Elections |
|
|
|
Alabama • California • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Iowa • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Massachusetts • Minnesota • Mississippi • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New York • Oklahoma • Pennsylvania • Puerto Rico • Rhode Island • South Carolina• Texas • Virginia • Washington |
| Other 2025 Election coverage |
State legislative elections Gubernatorial elections • Ballot measures |
In 2026, nine special elections were called to fill vacant seats in the Washington State Legislature.
Click here to read more about the special elections.
Senate special elections called:
- District 5: November 4
- District 26: November 4
- District 33: November 4
- District 34: November 4
- District 48: November 4
House special elections called:
- District 33: November 4
- District 34: November 4
- District 41: November 4
- District 48: November 4
How vacancies are filled in Washington
If there is a vacancy in the Washington State Legislature, the board of county commissioners where the vacant seat is located has the responsibility to select a replacement. The county central committee of the political party that last held the seat must submit a list of three candidates to the board of county commissioners representing the vacant district. If the vacancy occurs in the office of a joint senator or joint representative, the state central committee is responsible for submitting the list of three candidates. A selection must be made within 60 days after the vacancy occurred. The person appointed will hold the seat until his or her successor is elected at the next general or special election in November.[1]
See sources: Washington Const. Art. 2, Sec. 15
About the legislature
The Washington State Legislature is a bicameral body, composed of the lower Washington House of Representatives, with 98 representatives, and the upper Washington State Senate, with 49 senators.
The boxes below show the partisan composition of both chambers directly before and after the most recent general elections prior to 2025. For the most up-to-date numbers on partisan composition in this legislature, see here (Senate) and here (House).
| 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 | |
| Washington House of Representatives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2024 | After November 6, 2024 | |
| Democratic Party | 58 | 59 | |
| Republican Party | 40 | 39 | |
| Vacant | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 98 | 98 | |
Special elections
Click [show] to the right of the district name for more information:
November 4, 2025
| Washington State Senate District 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A special election for Washington State Senate District 5 was called for November 4, 2025. A primary was called for August 5, 2025. The candidate filing deadline was May 9, 2025.[2] The seat became vacant after incumbent Bill Ramos (D) passed away on April 19, 2025.[3] General electionSpecial general election for Washington State Senate District 5Incumbent Victoria Hunt defeated Chad Magendanz in the special general election for Washington State Senate District 5 on November 4, 2025.
Nonpartisan primary electionSpecial nonpartisan primary for Washington State Senate District 5Incumbent Victoria Hunt and Chad Magendanz advanced from the special primary for Washington State Senate District 5 on August 5, 2025.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington State Senate District 26 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A special election for Washington State Senate District 26 was called for November 4, 2025. A primary was called for August 5, 2025. The candidate filing deadline was May 9, 2025.[4] The seat became vacant after incumbent Emily Randall (D) was elected to the U.S. House to represent Washington's 6th Congressional District.[5] Deborah Krishnadasan (D) was appointed to serve in the position until the special election. [6] General electionSpecial general election for Washington State Senate District 26Incumbent Deborah Krishnadasan defeated Michelle Caldier in the special general election for Washington State Senate District 26 on November 4, 2025.
Nonpartisan primary electionSpecial nonpartisan primary for Washington State Senate District 26Incumbent Deborah Krishnadasan and Michelle Caldier advanced from the special primary for Washington State Senate District 26 on August 5, 2025.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington State Senate District 33 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A special election for Washington State Senate District 33 was called for November 4, 2025. A primary was called for August 5, 2025. The candidate filing deadline was May 9, 2025.[7] The seat became vacant after incumbent Karen Keiser (D) resigned midterm.[8] Tina Orwall (D) was appointed to serve in the position until the special election.[9] General electionSpecial general election for Washington State Senate District 33Incumbent Tina Orwall won election in the special general election for Washington State Senate District 33 on November 4, 2025.
Nonpartisan primary electionSpecial nonpartisan primary for Washington State Senate District 33Incumbent Tina Orwall advanced from the special primary for Washington State Senate District 33 on August 5, 2025.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington State Senate District 34 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A special election for Washington State Senate District 34 was called for November 4, 2025. A primary was called for August 5, 2025. The candidate filing deadline was May 9, 2025.[10] The seat became vacant after incumbent Joe Nguyen (D) was appointed to serve as the director of the Washington Department of Commerce.[11] Emily Alvarado (D) was appointed to serve in the position until the special election.[12] General electionSpecial general election for Washington State Senate District 34Incumbent Emily Alvarado won election in the special general election for Washington State Senate District 34 on November 4, 2025.
Nonpartisan primary electionSpecial nonpartisan primary for Washington State Senate District 34Incumbent Emily Alvarado advanced from the special primary for Washington State Senate District 34 on August 5, 2025.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington State Senate District 48 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A special election for Washington State Senate District 48 was called for November 4, 2025. A primary was called for August 5, 2025. The candidate filing deadline was May 9, 2025.[13] The seat became vacant after incumbent Patty Kuderer (D) was elected to serve as the Washington Commissioner of Insurance.[14] Vandana Slatter (D) was appointed to serve in the position until the special election.[15] General electionSpecial general election for Washington State Senate District 48Incumbent Vandana Slatter defeated Amy Walen in the special general election for Washington State Senate District 48 on November 4, 2025.
Nonpartisan primary electionSpecial nonpartisan primary for Washington State Senate District 48Incumbent Vandana Slatter and Amy Walen advanced from the special primary for Washington State Senate District 48 on August 5, 2025.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington House of Representatives District 33 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A special election for Washington House of Representatives District 33-Position 1 was called for November 4, 2025. A primary was called for August 5, 2025. The candidate filing deadline was May 9, 2025.[16] The seat became vacant after incumbent Tina Orwall (D) was appointed to represent Washington State Senate District 33.[17] Edwin Obras (D) was appointed to serve in the position until the special election.[17] General electionSpecial general election for Washington House of Representatives District 33-Position 1Incumbent Edwin Obras defeated Kevin Schilling in the special general election for Washington House of Representatives District 33-Position 1 on November 4, 2025.
Nonpartisan primary electionSpecial nonpartisan primary for Washington House of Representatives District 33-Position 1Incumbent Edwin Obras and Kevin Schilling defeated Darryl Jones in the special primary for Washington House of Representatives District 33-Position 1 on August 5, 2025.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington House of Representatives District 34 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A special election for Washington House of Representatives District 34-Position 1 was called for November 4, 2025. A primary was called for August 5, 2025. The candidate filing deadline was May 9, 2025.[18] The seat became vacant after incumbent Emily Alvarado (D) was appointed to represent Washington State Senate District 34.[17] Brianna Thomas (D) was appointed to serve in the position until the special election.[17] General electionSpecial general election for Washington House of Representatives District 34-Position 1Incumbent Brianna Thomas won election in the special general election for Washington House of Representatives District 34-Position 1 on November 4, 2025.
Nonpartisan primary electionSpecial nonpartisan primary for Washington House of Representatives District 34-Position 1Incumbent Brianna Thomas advanced from the special primary for Washington House of Representatives District 34-Position 1 on August 5, 2025.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington House of Representatives District 41 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A special election for Washington House of Representatives District 41-Position 1 was called for November 4, 2025. A primary was called for August 5, 2025. The candidate filing deadline was May 9, 2025.[19] The seat became vacant after incumbent Tana Senn (D) was appointed to serve as director of the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families.[17] Janice Zahn (D) was appointed to serve in the position until the special election.[17] General electionSpecial general election for Washington House of Representatives District 41-Position 1Incumbent Janice Zahn defeated John Whitney in the special general election for Washington House of Representatives District 41-Position 1 on November 4, 2025.
Nonpartisan primary electionSpecial nonpartisan primary for Washington House of Representatives District 41-Position 1Incumbent Janice Zahn and John Whitney defeated Vinita Kak in the special primary for Washington House of Representatives District 41-Position 1 on August 5, 2025.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington House of Representatives District 48 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A special election for Washington House of Representatives District 48-Position 1 was called for November 4, 2025. A primary was called for August 5, 2025. The candidate filing deadline was May 9, 2025.[20] The seat became vacant after incumbent Vandana Slatter (D) was appointed to represent Washington State Senate District 48.[17] Osman Salahuddin (D) was appointed to serve in the position until the special election.[17] General electionSpecial general election for Washington House of Representatives District 48-Position 1Incumbent Osman Salahuddin defeated Dennis Ellis in the special general election for Washington House of Representatives District 48-Position 1 on November 4, 2025.
Nonpartisan primary electionSpecial nonpartisan primary for Washington House of Representatives District 48-Position 1Incumbent Osman Salahuddin and Dennis Ellis defeated Ranga Bondada in the special primary for Washington House of Representatives District 48-Position 1 on August 5, 2025.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Historical data
There were 1,007 state legislative special elections that took place from 2010 to 2024. Washington held 17 special elections during the same time period. The largest number of special elections in Washington took place in 2017 when eight special elections were held.
The table below details how many state legislative special elections were held in a state in a given year.
Special elections throughout the country
In 2025, 95 state legislative special elections were scheduled for 2025 in 23 states. One special election was also called to fill a vacancy in the Puerto Rico House of Representatives. Between 2011 and 2024, an average of 70 special elections took place each year.
Breakdown of 2025 special elections
In 2025, special elections for state legislative positions were held for the following reasons:
- 39 due to appointment, election, or the seeking of election to another position
- 26 due to resignation
- 14 due to redistricting
- 15 due to the death of the incumbent
- 1 due to the officeholder leaving at term end
Impact of special elections on partisan composition
The partisan breakdown for the special elections was as follows:
- 51 Democratic seats
- 44 Republican seats
As of March 15th, 2026, Republicans controlled 55.1% of all state legislative seats nationally, while Democrats held 43.92%. Republicans held a majority in 57 chambers, and Democrats held the majority in 39 chambers. Two chambers (Alaska House and Alaska Senate) were organized under multipartisan, power-sharing coalitions. One chamber (Minnesota House of Representatives) was split evenly between both parties.
| Partisan balance of all 7,386 state legislative seats | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legislative chamber | Vacant | |||||||
| State senates | 838 | 1,122 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| State houses | 2,406 | 2,948 | 20 | 39 | ||||
| Total: | 3,244
|
4,070
|
26
|
46 | ||||
The table below details how many seats changed parties as the result of a special election in 2025. The number on the left reflects how many vacant seats were originally held by each party, while the number on the right shows how many vacant seats each party won in the special elections.
Note: This table reflects information for elections that were held and not the total number of vacant seats.
| Partisan Change from Special Elections (2025) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of Special Election | After Special Election | |
| Democratic Party | 51 | 59 | |
| Republican Party | 44 | 36 | |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 95 | 95 | |
Flipped seats
In 2025, seven seats changed party hands as a result of state legislative special elections.
Seats that changed from R to D
- Iowa State Senate District 35 (January 28)
- Pennsylvania State Senate District 36 (March 25)
- Iowa State Senate District 1 (August 26)
- Mississippi State Senate District 2 (November 4)
- Mississippi State Senate District 45 (November 4)
- Mississippi House of Representatives District 22 (November 4)
- Georgia House of Representatives District 121 (December 9)
- Texas State Senate District 9 (January 31, 2026 runoff)
See also
- State legislative special elections, 2025
- State legislative special elections, 2024
- State legislative special elections, 2023
- State legislative special elections, 2022
- State legislative special elections, 2021
- State legislative special elections, 2020
- Washington State Legislature
Footnotes
- ↑ Washington Legislature, "Washington Constitution - Section Article II, Section 15," accessed February 8, 2023
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Elections calendar," accessed February 10, 2025
- ↑ My Northwest, "Washington State Senator Bill Ramos dies unexpectedly Saturday night," April 20, 2025
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Elections calendar," accessed February 10, 2025
- ↑ Washington State Standard, "Three WA Senate Democrats are leaving their jobs. Here’s what happens next," November 22, 2024
- ↑ Washington State Standard, "Gig Harbor education leader to become WA’s newest Democratic state senator," December 11, 2025
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Elections calendar," accessed February 10, 2025
- ↑ Washington State Standard, "Three WA Senate Democrats are leaving their jobs. Here’s what happens next," November 22, 2024
- ↑ Washington State Standard, "Replacement picked for longtime Washington senator," December 10, 2025
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Elections calendar," accessed February 10, 2025
- ↑ Washington State Standard, "Ferguson taps Seattle state senator to lead WA Department of Commerce," December 27, 2025
- ↑ The Seattle Times, "King County Council picks replacement for resigning WA state lawmakers," January 23, 2025
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Elections calendar," accessed February 10, 2025
- ↑ Washington State Standard, "Three WA Senate Democrats are leaving their jobs. Here’s what happens next," November 22, 2024
- ↑ Washington State Standard, "House lawmaker picked to replace Patty Kuderer in WA Senate," January 7, 2025
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Elections calendar," accessed February 10, 2025
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 17.7 Washington State Standard, "Replacement picked for longtime Washington senator," December 10, 2024 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "appoint" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "appoint" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "appoint" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Elections calendar," accessed February 10, 2025
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Elections calendar," accessed February 10, 2025
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Elections calendar," accessed February 10, 2025
