Washington State Senate | |
---|---|
Washington State Legislature | |
Type | |
Type | |
Term limits | None |
History | |
New session started | January 10, 2011 |
Leadership | |
President pro Tempore | |
Majority Leader | |
Minority Leader | Mike Hewitt (R) since January 3, 2006 |
Structure | |
Seats | 49 |
Political groups | Democratic Party (27) Republican Party (22) |
Length of term | 4 years |
Authority | Article II, Washington State Constitution |
Salary | $42,106/year + per diem |
Elections | |
Last election | November 2, 2010 (25 seats) |
Next election | November 6, 2012 (24 seats) |
Redistricting | Washington State Redistricting Commission |
Meeting place | |
State Senate Chamber Washington State Capitol Olympia, Washington | |
Website | |
Washington State Senate |
The Washington State Senate is the upper house of the Washington State Legislature. The body consists of 49 senators, each representing a district with a population of nearly 120,000. 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 two representatives but only one senator.
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 of the Senate
The Lieutenant Governor of Washington serves as the President of the Senate, but only casts a vote if required to break a tie. In his or her absence, the President Pro Tempore presides over the Senate. The President Pro Tempore is elected by the majority party caucus followed by confirmation of the entire Senate through a Senate Resolution. The President Pro Tempore is the chief leadership position in the Senate. The other Senate leaders, such as the majority and minority leaders are elected by their respective party caucuses.
The current President of the Senate is Brad Owen. The current President Pro Tempore is Democrat Margarita Prentice (D–Renton). The Majority Leader is Lisa J. Brown (D–Spokane) and the Minority Leader is Mike Hewitt (R–Walla Walla).
Composition of the Senate
Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic | | Template:American politics/party colors/Republican | | |||
Democratic | Republican | Vacant | ||
End of previous legislature | 31 | 18 | 49 | 0 |
Begin[1] | 27 | 21 | 48 | 1 |
February 11, 2011 [2] | 22 | 49 | 0 | |
Latest voting share | 55.1% | 44.9% |
Members of the Senate (2011-2012, 62nd Legislature)
District | Senator | Party | Residence | First elected |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Rosemary McAuliffe | Democratic | Bothell | 1992 |
2 | Randi Becker | Republican | Eatonville | 2008 |
3 | Lisa J. Brown | Democratic | Spokane | 1996 |
4 | MIchael Padden | Republican | Spokane Valley | 2011 |
5 | Cheryl Pflug | Republican | Maple Valley | 2004 |
6 | Michael Baumgartner | Republican | Spokane | 2010 |
7 | Bob Morton | Republican | Kettle Falls | 1994 |
8 | Jerome Delvin | Republican | Richland | 2004* |
9 | Mark Schoesler | Republican | Ritzville | 2004 |
10 | Mary Margaret Haugen | Democratic | Camano Island | 1992 |
11 | Margarita Prentice | Democratic | Renton | 1992 |
12 | Linda Evans Parlette | Republican | Wenatchee | 2000 |
13 | Janea Holmquist | Republican | Moses Lake | 2006 |
14 | Curtis King | Republican | Yakima | 2007* |
15 | Jim Honeyford | Republican | Sunnyside | 1998 |
16 | Mike Hewitt | Republican | Walla Walla | 2000 |
17 | Don Benton | Republican | Vancouver | 1996 |
18 | Joseph Zarelli | Republican | Ridgefield | 1995* |
19 | Brian Hatfield | Democratic | Raymond | 2006* |
20 | Dan Swecker | Republican | Rochester | 1995* |
21 | Paull Shin | Democratic | Edmonds | 1998 |
22 | Karen Fraser | Democratic | Olympia | 1992 |
23 | Christine Rolfes | Democratic | Bainbridge Island | 2011 |
24 | James Hargrove | Democratic | Hoquiam | 1992 |
25 | Jim Kastama | Democratic | Puyallup | 2000 |
26 | Derek Kilmer | Democratic | Gig Harbor | 2006 |
27 | Debbie Regala | Democratic | Tacoma | 2000 |
28 | Mike Carrell | Republican | Lakewood | 2004* |
29 | Steve Conway | Democratic | South Tahoma | 2011 |
30 | Tracey Eide | Democratic | Federal Way | 1998 |
31 | Pam Roach | Republican | Auburn | 1990 |
32 | Maralyn Chase | Democratic | Edmonds | 2011 |
33 | Karen Keiser | Democratic | Kent | 2000 |
34 | Sharon Nelson | Democratic | West Seattle | 2011* |
35 | Tim Sheldon | Democratic | Potlatch | 1996 |
36 | Jeanne Kohl-Welles | Democratic | Seattle | 1994 |
37 | Adam Kline | Democratic | Seattle | 1996 |
38 | Nick Harper | Democratic | Everett | 2011 |
39 | Val Stevens | Republican | Arlington | 1996 |
40 | Kevin Ranker | Democratic | San Juan Island | 2008 |
41 | Steve Litzow | Republican | Mercer Island | 2010 |
42 | Doug Ericksen | Republican | Ferndale | 2010 |
43 | Ed Murray | Democratic | Seattle | 2006 |
44 | Steve Hobbs | Democratic | Lake Stevens | 2006 |
45 | Andy Hill | Republican | Redmond | 2010 |
46 | David Frockt | Democratic | Seattle | 2011 |
47 | Joe Fain | Republican | Auburn | 2010 |
48 | Rodney Tom | Democratic | Medina | 2006 |
49 | Craig Pridemore | Democratic | Vancouver | 2004 |
See also
References
- ^ Before the legislative session started, Republican Senator Bob McCaslin (District 4) retired due to health concerns. "SRC - Senator Bob McCaslin, 4th District, Spokane Valley". Senaterepublicans.wa.gov. 2011-01-04. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
- ^ Jeff Baxter appointed to succeed McCaslin (District 4)