2016 Washington State Senate election

Washington State Senate elections, 2016

← 2014 November 8, 2016 2018 →

26 seats of the Washington State Senate
25 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Pam Roach Sharon Nelson
Party Majority Coalition Caucus[a] Democratic
Leader's seat 31st-Auburn 34th-Vashon
Last election 26 23
Seats won 25 24
Seat change Decrease 1 Increase 1
Popular vote 787,912 708,898
Percentage 50.86% 45.82%

Results:
     Democratic gain
     Republican hold      Democratic hold
     No election

President pro tempore before election

Pam Roach
Republican (Coalition)

Elected President pro tempore

Tim Sheldon
Democratic (Coalition)

The 2016 Washington State Senate elections is one of the biennial legislative elections in Washington in which about half of the state's 49 legislative districts choose a state senator for a four-year term to the Washington State Senate. The other half of state senators are chosen in the next biennial election, so that about half of the senators, along with all the members of the Washington State House of Representatives, are elected every two years. 25 seats are regularly scheduled to be up this cycle, along with 1 additional seat holding a special election to fill an unexpired term: the 36th district, currently held by appointed Senator Reuven Carlyle, whose former incumbent Jeanne Kohl-Welles vacated the seat.

A top two primary election on August 9, 2016 determines which candidates appear on the November ballot. Candidates were allowed to declare a party preference.[1] The general election took place on November 8, 2016.[2]

The 2016 Election maintained effective Republican control of the Senate, because self-identified Democrat Tim Sheldon caucuses with the Republicans.


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  1. ^ "Top 2 Primary: FAQs for Voters".
  2. ^ November 8, 2016 General Election Results: Legislative - All Results (Report).