2024 Washington State Senate election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Washington State Senate elections, 2024
| country = Washington
| type = legislative
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2022 Washington State Senate election
| previous_year = 2022
| next_election = 2026 Washington State Senate election
| next_year = 2026
| seats_for_election = 25 of 49 seats in the Washington State Senate
| majority_seats = 25
| election_date = November 5, 2024
| image1 = 3x4.svg
| leader1 = Andy Billig
(retired)
| party1 = Washington State Democratic Party
| leaders_seat1 = 3rd
| seats_before1 = 29
| seats1 = 30
| seat_change1 = {{increase}} 1
| popular_vote1 = 978,951
| percentage1 = 52.38%
| swing1 = {{loss}} 4.43 pp
| image2 = JohnBraun.png
| leader2 = John Braun
| party2 = Washington State Republican Party
| leaders_seat2 = 20th
| seats_before2 = 20
| seats2 = 19
| seat_change2 = {{decrease}} 1
| popular_vote2 = 876,073
| percentage2 = 46.88%
| swing2 = {{gain}} 7.59 pp
| map_image = {{Switcher
| 350px
| Results by gains and holds
| 350px
| Results by winning party vote share}}
| map_caption = Results:
{{legend0|#0671B0|Democratic gain}}
{{legend0|#92C5DE|Democratic hold}} {{legend0|#F48882|Republican hold}}
{{legend0|#D3D3D3|No election}}
Vote share:
{{legend0|#A5B0FF|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674DE|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584CDE|70–80%}} {{legend0|#0D0596|>90%}}
{{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#a80000|>90%}}
| title = Majority Leader
| before_election = Andy Billig
| before_party = Democratic
| after_election = Jamie Pedersen
| after_party = Democratic
}}
{{ElectionsWA}}
The 2024 Washington State Senate elections were held on November 5, 2024, with a nonpartisan blanket primary election held on August 6, 2024. Voters in 25 of the 49 state legislative districts elected Senators to the Washington State Senate.{{cite web|url=https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/elections-calendar/dates-and-deadlines|title=Dates and Deadlines 2024|website=Washington Secretary of State|access-date=February 8, 2024}} The elections will coincide with other elections for federal, state, and local offices.
{{Horizontal TOC|nonum=yes|limit=2}}
Background
=''Soto Palmer v. Hobbs''=
Judge Robert S. Lasnik of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington ruled that the 15th legislative district violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting Latino votes in the Yakima Valley region and necessitated redrawing.{{cite web|url=https://www.propublica.org/article/the-failed-promise-of-independent-election-mapmaking|title=The Failed Promise of Independent Election Mapmaking|last=Thompson|first=Marilyn|date=January 18, 2024|access-date=February 12, 2024|website=ProPublica}}{{cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/08/25/washington-state-redistricting-order-voting-rights-act|title=Washington isn't rushing to redraw districts, despite court order|last=Santos|first=Melissa|date=August 25, 2023|access-date=February 12, 2024|website=Axios}}{{cite web|url=https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/government/elections/yakima-valley-latinos-prevail-in-voting-rights-act-lawsuit-focused-on-legislative-district-15/article_9ccff276-3898-11ee-afe5-7700fa028b59.html|title=Yakima Valley Latinos prevail in Voting Rights Act lawsuit focused on Legislative District 15|last=Ferolito|first=Phil|website=Yakima Herald-Republic|date=August 11, 2023|access-date=February 12, 2024}}
Plaintiffs provided five remedial maps awaiting Lasnik's approval.{{cite web|url=https://crosscut.com/politics/2024/01/five-new-maps-proposed-central-washington-redistricting|title=Five new maps proposed for Central Washington redistricting|date=January 18, 2024|access-date=February 12, 2024|last=Hoang|first=Mai|website=Crosscut.com}} On March 16, 2024, the judge selected a new redistricting map which significantly changes the boundaries of several districts in the Yakima Valley and changes the numbering of District 15 to District 14. This change in number means that elections for district 14 in the State Senate will now be held in Presidential Election Years, which typically have higher turnout than midterm election years among Latino voters.{{cite news |last1=Hoang |first1=Mai |title=U.S. judge picks new WA legislative map, moving Latino district |url=https://crosscut.com/politics/2024/03/us-judge-picks-new-wa-legislative-map-moving-latino-district |access-date=16 June 2024 |publisher=Cascade PBS |date=15 March 2024}}
Partisan Background
In the 2020 Presidential Election, Democrat Joe Biden won 34 of Washington State's legislative districts and Republican Donald Trump won 15 of Washington State's legislative districts. Out of the 25 State Senate districts that are up for election in the 2024 Washington State Senate Election, Republicans represented 5 districts that Joe Biden won in 2020: District 10 (Biden + 6%); District 12 (Biden + 3%); Majority-Minority District 14 (Biden + 14%); District 17 (Biden + 6%); and District 25 (Biden + 2%).
File:2020 Washington Presidential Election by Legislative District.svg
Retirements
Eight incumbents did not seek re-election.
=Democrats=
- District 3: Andy Billig is retiring.{{Cite news|last=Dennis|first=Ellen|title=Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig says he won't run for re-election|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/mar/04/senate-majority-leader-andy-billig-says-he-wont-ru/|date=March 4, 2024|access-date=March 5, 2024|website=The Spokesman-Review}}
- District 5: Mark Mullet is retiring to run for Governor.{{Cite news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/state-sen-mark-mullet-to-announce-bid-for-wa-governor/|title=State Sen. Mark Mullet announces bid for WA governor|date=June 1, 2023|access-date=February 8, 2024|last=Withycombe|first=Claire|website=The Seattle Times}}
- District 22: Sam Hunt is retiring.{{Cite news|last=Sowersby|first=Shauna|date=February 22, 2024|title=Longtime lawmaker from Olympia announces his retirement from the Legislature|url=https://www.theolympian.com/news/politics-government/election/article285702266.html|access-date=March 4, 2024|website=The Olympian}}
- District 24: Kevin Van De Wege is retiring to run for Public Lands Commissioner.{{Cite news|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/jun/21/state-senator-kevin-van-de-wege-to-run-for-lands-c/|title=State Sen. Kevin Van De Wege to run for lands commissioner|date=June 21, 2023|access-date=February 8, 2024|last=Dennis|first=Ellen|website=The Spokesman-Review}}
=Republicans=
- District 4: Mike Padden is retiring.{{Cite news|last1=Dennis|first1=Ellen|last2=Rendahl|first2=Lauren|title=Longtime Spokane Valley state Sen. Mike Padden says he won't run for re-election|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/apr/03/longtime-spokane-valley-state-sen-mike-padden-says/|date=April 3, 2024|website=The Spokesman-Review|accessdate=May 19, 2024}}
- District 12: Brad Hawkins is retiring to run for Chelan County Commission.{{Cite news|last=Robbins|first=Jefferson|title=Hawkins to swap Senate race for Chelan County campaign|url=https://www.ncwlife.com/news/hawkins-to-swap-senate-race-for-chelan-county-campaign/article_7842a6d8-00f2-11ef-b236-8394cbd7ea16.html|date=April 22, 2024|website=KWCC-LD|accessdate=May 19, 2024}}
- District 17: Lynda Wilson is retiring.{{Cite news|last=Jefferies|first=Dylan|title=Washington State Sen. Lynda Wilson to step down from Legislature to spend time with family|url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/mar/06/washington-state-sen-lynda-wilson-to-step-down-from-legislature-to-spend-time-with-family/|date=March 6, 2024|website=The Columbian|accessdate=May 19, 2024}}
- District 18: Ann Rivers is retiring.{{Cite news|last=Jefferies|first=Dylan|title=Republican Sen. Ann Rivers will not seek another term in state Senate|url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/apr/05/republican-sen-ann-rivers-will-not-seek-another-term-in-state-senate/|date=April 5, 2024|website=The Columbian|accessdate=May 19, 2024}}
Predictions
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Source !Ranking !As of |
align=left | Sabato's Crystal Ball{{Cite web |last=Jacobson |first=Louis |date=2024-10-23 |title=The State Legislatures: Several Key Battleground Chambers Remain Toss-ups |url=https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/the-state-legislatures-several-key-battleground-chambers-remain-toss-ups/ |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=Sabato's Crystal Ball |language=en-US}}
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|D}} | October 23, 2024 |
Summary of results by district
†: Incumbent not running for re-election.
class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size:95%;line-height:14px;"
! colspan="1" class="unsortable"| State Senate District ! class="unsortable"|Incumbent ! colspan="2"| Party ! class="unsortable"|Elected senator ! colspan="2"| Party |
1st
| style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"| | Dem | style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"| | Dem |
2nd
| style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"| | Rep | style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"| | Rep |
3rd
| † Andy Billig | style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"| | Dem | style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"| | Dem |
4th
| † Mike Padden | style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"| | Rep | style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"| | Rep |
5th
| † Mark Mullet | style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"| | Dem | style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"| | Dem |
9th
| style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"| | Rep | style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"| | Rep |
10th
| style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"| | Rep | style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"| | Rep |
11th
| style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | | Dem | style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | | Dem |
12th
| † Brad Hawkins | style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | | Rep | style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | | Rep |
14th
| style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | | Rep | style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | | Rep |
16th
| style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | | Rep | style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | | Rep |
17th
| † Lynda Wilson | style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | | Rep | style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | | Rep |
18th
| † Ann Rivers | style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | | Rep | style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | | Dem |
19th
| style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | | Rep | style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | | Rep |
20th
| style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | | Rep | style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | | Rep |
22nd
| † Sam Hunt | style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | | Dem | style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | | Dem |
23rd
| style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"| | Dem | style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"| | Dem |
24th
| style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"| | Dem | style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"| | Dem |
25th
| style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"| | Rep | style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"| | Rep |
27th
| style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"| | Dem | style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"| | Dem |
28th
| style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"| | Dem | style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"| | Dem |
39th
| style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"| | Rep | style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"| | Rep |
40th
| style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"| | Dem | style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"| | Dem |
41st
| style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"| | Dem | style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"| | Dem |
49th
| style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"| | Dem | style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"| | Dem |
District 1
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2024 Washington's 1st legislative district Senate election
| country = Washington
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2020 Washington State Senate election#District 1
| previous_year = 2020
| election_date =
| next_election = 2028 Washington State Senate election#District 1
| next_year = 2028
| image_size = x150px
| image1 = 3x4.svg
| nominee1 = Derek Stanford
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 60,568
| percentage1 = 96.0%
| map_image =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| title = State Senator
| before_election = Derek Stanford
| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)
| after_election = Derek Stanford
| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
= Candidates =
- Derek Stanford (Democratic), incumbent state senator
= Results =
{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=Washington's 1st State Senate District, 2024}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Washington Democratic Party|candidate=Derek Stanford (incumbent)|votes=30,980|percentage=96.0}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change|votes=1,282|percentage=4.0}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=32,262|percentage=100.0}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Washington Democratic Party|candidate=Derek Stanford (incumbent)|votes=60,568|percentage=96.0}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change|votes=2,509|percentage=4.0}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=63,077|percentage=100.0}}
{{Election box end}}
District 2
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2024 Washington's 2nd legislative district Senate election
| country = Washington
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2020 Washington State Senate election#District 2
| previous_year = 2020
| election_date =
| next_election = 2028 Washington State Senate election#District 2
| next_year = 2028
| image_size = x150px
| image1 = 3x4.svg
| nominee1 = Jim McCune
| party1 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 47,908
| percentage1 = 63.1%
| image2 = 3x4.svg
| nominee2 = Erasmo Ruiz Gonzalez
| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 27,955
| percentage2 = 36.8%
| map_image =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| title = State Senator
| before_election = Jim McCune
| before_party = Republican Party (United States)
| after_election = Jim McCune
| after_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
= Candidates =
- Jim McCune (Republican), incumbent state senator{{Cite web |last=Dimond |first=Jacob |date=2024-07-23 |title=District 2 legislative races feature packed slate |url=https://www.yelmonline.com/stories/district-2-legislative-races-feature-packed-slate,346385 |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Nisqually Valley News |language=en}}
- Erasmo Ruiz Gonzalez (Democratic), Bethel School Board director
== Eliminated in primary ==
- Ronda Litzenberger (Republican), Eatonville School Board director
= Endorsements =
{{Endorsements box|top|title=Ronda Litzenberger (R)|width=50em}}
State legislators
- J. T. Wilcox, Minority Leader of the Washington House of Representatives
Local officials
- Joe DePinto, mayor of Yelm