Washington State Senate | |
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Washington State Legislature | |
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Type | |
Type | |
Term limits | None |
History | |
New session started | January 9, 2023 |
Leadership | |
President pro tempore | |
Majority Leader | |
Minority Leader | |
Structure | |
Seats | 49 |
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Political groups | Majority Caucus
Minority Caucus
|
Length of term | 4 years |
Authority | Article II, Washington State Constitution |
Salary | $56,881/year + per diem [1] |
Elections | |
Last election | November 8, 2022 (24 seats) |
Next election | November 5, 2024 (25 seats) |
Redistricting | Washington Redistricting Commission |
Meeting place | |
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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 members, each representing a district with a population of nearly 160,000. 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 one senator and two representatives. Terms are staggered so that half the Senate is up for reelection every two years.
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.