The 2012 Washington State Senate elections took place on November 6, 2012. Twenty-five of Washington's forty-nine state senators were elected. Each state legislative district has one senator elected to a four-year term, but state senate elections alternate so that about half of the senators are elected in presidential election years (e.g., 2008, 2012) and the other half are elected in non-presidential even numbered election years (e.g., 2010, 2014). A top two primary election on August 7, 2012 determined which candidates appear on the November ballot. Candidates were allowed to self-declare a party preference.
25 seats were regularly scheduled to be up this cycle, along with 1 additional seat holding a special election to fill an unexpired term: the 46th district, held by appointed Senator David Frockt, whose former incumbent Scott White vacated the seat.
Democrats gained the 5th district seat and Republicans gained the 10th and 25th district seats for a net gain of one seat for the Republicans. While the Democratic Party won a majority of the seats in the election, two Democratic senators joined the Republicans to form the Majority Coalition Caucus on December 10, 2012, giving Republicans an effective majority of seats.
Overview Washington State Senate elections, 2012PartySeats+/– Democratic 12 1 Republican 14 1 Independent 0 0 Total 26
Composition Elections Seats Democratic Incumbent and Uncontested 2 Races w/ two Democrats in General 1 Republican Incumbent and Uncontested 4 Races w/ two Republicans in General 1 Contested, Open Seats 7
On December 10, 2012, two Democratic Senators joined in a coalition with the Republican Caucus to form a conservative majority, called the "Majority Coalition Caucus". Since Dec 10, 2012 Seats Democratic 24 Mostly Republican "Majority Coalition Caucus" 25 Total 49
Predictions SourceRankingAs of Governing | October 24, 2012
Seats up for election
Results as reported by the Secretary of State:
District 1
District 2
District 3 Incumbent Lisa Brown did not seek another term. On November 30, 2012, Brown was selected for Governor-Elect Jay Inslee's transition team.
District 4
District 5 Original incumbent Cheryl Pflug resigned in June 2012 to take a seat on the Washington Growth Management Hearings Board. Former state senator and recurring statewide-office candidate Dino Rossi was appointed to complete her term, but redistricting moved him out of the 5th LD, making him ineligible to run for the seat in 2012.
District 9
District 10
District 11 Incumbent Margarita Prentice was redistricted out of the 11th LD, and declined to run for election in the new district.
District 12
District 14
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25 Incumbent Jim Kastama ran for Washington Secretary of State, making him ineligible to run for reelection. He did not win the state position.
District 27 Incumbent Debbie Regala retired at the end of her term.
District 28
District 39 Incumbent Val Stevens retired at the end of her term.
District 40
District 41
District 46
District 49 Incumbent Craig Pridemore ran for Washington State Auditor, making him ineligible to run for reelection. He did not win the state position.
References