Katana VentraIP

Washington State Legislature

The Washington State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a bicameral body, composed of the lower Washington House of Representatives, composed of 98 Representatives, and the upper Washington State Senate, with 49 Senators plus the Lieutenant Governor acting as president.[1] The state is divided into 49 legislative districts, each of which elect one senator and two representatives.

Washington State Legislature

Denny Heck (D)
since January 13, 2021
Karen Keiser (D)
since November 15, 2017
Laurie Jinkins (D)
since January 13, 2020

147
49 senators
98 representatives

Majority Caucus

Minority Caucus

Majority

Minority

November 8, 2022
(25 seats)

November 8, 2022
(98 seats)

November 5, 2024
(24 seats)

November 5, 2024
(98 seats)

The State Legislature meets in the Legislative Building at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia.


As of January 2023, Democrats control both houses of the Washington State Legislature. Democrats hold a 58–40 majority in the House of Representatives[2] and a 29–20 majority in the Senate.[3]

Vacancies[edit]

Unlike some state legislatures, the Washington State Legislature does not hold a special election between general elections if a seat becomes vacant in the middle of a term. Instead, the county central committee of the political party that last held the seat in the county that contains the district nominates three candidates and the board of county commissioners chooses among them. A special election is then held alongside November general elections. Where a district spans counties, the state central committee of the party selects the candidates and the boards of county commissioners of all the counties jointly choose one.[8]

Compensation[edit]

As of July 2022, legislators receive an annual salary of $57,876. The Speaker of the House and Senate majority leader receive salaries of $66,016, while the House and Senate minority leaders receive salaries of $61,946. Per diem is set at 89% of the federal per diem rate and is $185 as of 2022.[9][10]

Washington State Capitol

Washington House of Representatives

Washington State Senate

List of Washington state legislatures

Don Brazier, Olympia, WA: Washington State Senate, 2000.

History of the Washington Legislature, 1854-1963.

Washington State Legislature