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Washington State Senate

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File:Budget passing 05.jpg
The Washington State Senate passing the 2005 budget.

The Washington State Senate is the upper house of the Washington State Legislature. The body consists of 49 Senators, respresenting an equal amount of districts across the state, each 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 with a four year term. Also similar to the House, members to the State Senate are elected from the same legislative districts as House members, however one Senator represents the constituency, while for the House there are two Representatives per district.

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 Majority and Minority leaders are elected by their respective party caucuses.

The President of the Senate is Washington Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen. The President Pro Tempore is Democrat Rosa Franklin of the 29th Legislative District (Lakewood). The Majority Leader is Democrat Lisa Brown of the 3rd Legislative District (Spokane). The Minority Leader is Republican Mike Hewitt of the 16th Legislative District (Walla Walla).

Make-up of the Senate

Affiliation Members
Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic Democratic Party 26 (53.1% Majority)
Template:American politics/party colours/Republican Republican Party 23 (46.9% Minority)
 Total
49
 Government Majority
3

Current Members of the Senate (2005-2006, 59th Legislature)

DistrictSenatorParty
1Rosemary McAuliffeDemocrat
2Marilyn RasmussenDemocrat
3Lisa BrownDemocrat
4Bob McCaslinRepublican
5Cheryl PflugRepublican
6Brad BensonRepublican
7Bob MortonRepublican
8Jerome DelvinRepublican
9Mark SchoeslerRepublican
10Mary Margaret HaugenDemocrat
11Margarita PrenticeDemocrat
12Linda Evans ParletteRepublican
13Joyce MullikenRepublican
14Alex DeccioRepublican
15Jim HoneyfordRepublican
16Mike HewittRepublican
17Don BentonRepublican
18Joseph ZarelliRepublican
19Mark DoumitDemocrat
20Dan SweckerRepublican
21Paull ShinDemocrat
22Karen FraserDemocrat
23Phil RockefellerDemocrat
24James HargroveDemocrat
25Jim KastamaDemocrat
26Bob OkeRepublican
27Debbie RegalaDemocrat
28Mike CarrellRepublican
29Rosa FranklinDemocrat
30Tracey EideDemocrat
31Pam RoachRepublican
32Darlene FairleyDemocrat
33Karen KeiserDemocrat
34Erik PoulsenDemocrat
35Tim SheldonDemocrat
36Jeanne Kohl-WellesDemocrat
37Adam KlineDemocrat
38Jean BerkeyDemocrat
39Val StevensRepublican
40Harriet SpanelDemocrat
41Brian WeinsteinDemocrat
42Dale BrandlandRepublican
43Pat ThibaudeauDemocrat
44Dave SchmidtRepublican
45Bill FinkbeinerRepublican
46Ken JacobsenDemocrat
47Stephen JohnsonRepublican
48Luke EsserRepublican
49Craig PridemoreDemocrat

Unofficial Future Make-up of the Senate

Affiliation Members
Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic Democratic Party 32 (65.3% Majority)
Template:American politics/party colours/Republican Republican Party 17 (34.7% Minority)
 Total
49
 Government Majority
15

Future Members of the Senate (2007-2008, 60th Legislature)

DistrictSenatorParty
1Rosemary McAuliffeDemocrat
2Marilyn RasmussenDemocrat
3Lisa BrownDemocrat
4Bob McCaslinRepublican
5Cheryl PflugRepublican
6Chris MarrDemocrat
7Bob MortonRepublican
8Jerome DelvinRepublican
9Mark SchoeslerRepublican
10Mary Margaret HaugenDemocrat
11Margarita PrenticeDemocrat
12Linda Evans ParletteRepublican
13Janea HolmquistRepublican
14Alex DeccioRepublican
15Jim HoneyfordRepublican
16Mike HewittRepublican
17Don BentonRepublican
18Joseph ZarelliRepublican
19Mark DoumitDemocrat
20Dan SweckerRepublican
21Paull ShinDemocrat
22Karen FraserDemocrat
23Phil RockefellerDemocrat
24James HargroveDemocrat
25Jim KastamaDemocrat
26Derek KilmerDemocrat
27Debbie RegalaDemocrat
28Mike CarrellRepublican
29Rosa FranklinDemocrat
30Tracey EideDemocrat
31Pam RoachRepublican
32Darlene FairleyDemocrat
33Karen KeiserDemocrat
34Erik PoulsenDemocrat
35Tim SheldonDemocrat
36Jeanne Kohl-WellesDemocrat
37Adam KlineDemocrat
38Jean BerkeyDemocrat
39Val StevensRepublican
40Harriet SpanelDemocrat
41Brian WeinsteinDemocrat
42Dale BrandlandRepublican
43Ed MurrayDemocrat
44Steve HobbsDemocrat
45Eric OemigDemocrat
46Ken JacobsenDemocrat
47Claudia KauffmanDemocrat
48Rodney TomDemocrat
49Craig PridemoreDemocrat

See also

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