The Majority Coalition Caucus (MCC) was a caucus formed on December 10, 2012, by all 23 Republican members of the Washington State Senate and two Democratic senators. Its membership constituted a majority of the chamber's 49 members, allowing it to take control of the Senate from the Democratic caucus whose members had previously formed a majority. The MCC, operating much like a coalition government, offered an equal number of committee leadership positions to Republicans and Democrats. Senate Democrats accepted only three of the nine positions offered them. The Republicans strengthened their position by gaining one seat in the 2013 election, but lost its majority following a special election in November 2017. The coalition has 23 Republicans and one self-identified Democratic senator, Tim Sheldon. On November 15, 2017, the Majority Coalition Caucus returned to being the state Senate Republican Caucus.

Formation and organization In the November 2012 elections, Republicans gained one seat in the Washington State Senate, reducing the Democratic majority to 26 out of 49 seats. On December 10, 2012, two Democratic state senators, Tim Sheldon and Rodney Tom, announced they would caucus with the Republicans to create a Republican Majority Caucus with 25 of 49 seats.

The MCC has the power to appoint the chairpersons and members of the twelve policy and three fiscal committees that play a leading role in considering and advancing legislation, much like U.S. Senate committees. The MCC proposed six Republican chairs and six Democratic chairs and co-chairs drawn from both parties for the remaining committees.

Senate Democrats rejected offers to chair or co-chair any committees offered them except three: Steve Hobbs chaired the Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee, Brian Hatfield chaired the Agriculture, Water & Rural Economic Development Committee, and Tracey Eide co-chaired the Transportation Committee with Curtis King. However, by December 2014 Hobbs, Hatfield, and Eide's roles had been reduced to "ranking minority member" on each of their committees in favor of Republican leadership.

The MCC's two Democratic members were given leadership positions: Rodney Tom was Senate Majority Leader, Tim Sheldon (MCC) was the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Republican Mark Schoesler headed the Senate Republican Caucus, which continued to operate even while all its members belong as well to the MCC.

The election of Republican Jan Angel in 2013 to the Senate gave the MCC 26 of the 49 seats. Rodney Tom characterized this as an "exponential" increase in the coalition's leverage.

In the 2014 election Rodney Tom decided not to seek re-election because of family problems. However, the caucus maintained its majority with 26 senators.

The Majority Coalition Caucus lost its majority in a 2017 special election which saw the election of Democrat Manka Dhingra. On 15 November 2017 the Majority Coalition Caucus was dissolved and all of its members rejoined the Senate Republican Caucus; despite being registered as a Democrat, Tim Sheldon continued to caucus with Republicans.

In the 2018 election, Washington Democratic Party regained its majority in the Senate, electing 28 seats.

Composition

AffiliationParty (Shading indicates majority caucus)TotalCoalitionNon-coalitionRepublicanDemocraticVacantAfter 2012 Election232244902013 Session2323214902014 Session2423204902015–16 Session251234902017 Session24124490

Majority Coalition Caucus-Led Committees

Committee Makeup Chair Ranking Member Accountability & Reform 3 MCC / 2 D Mark Miloscia Pramila Jayapal Agriculture, Water & Rural Economic Development 3 MCC / 2 D Judith Warnick Brian Hatfield Commerce & Labor 4 MCC / 3 D Michael Baumgartner Bob Hasegawa Early Learning & K-12 Education 5 MCC / 4 D Steve Litzow Rosemary McAuliffe Energy, Environment & Telecommunications 5 MCC / 4 D Doug Ericksen John McCoy Financial Institutions & Insurance 5 MCC / 4 D Don Benton Mark Mullet Government Operations & State Security 4 MCC / 3 D Pam Roach Marko Liias Health Care 8 MCC / 5 D Randi Becker David Frockt Higher Education 4 MCC / 3 D Barbara Bailey Jeanne Kohl-Welles Human Services, Mental Health & Housing 3 MCC / 2 D Steve O'Ban Jeannie Darneille Law & Justice 4 MCC / 3 D Mike Padden Jamie Pedersen Natural Resources & Parks 4 MCC / 3 D Kirk Pearson Brian Hatfield Rules 11 MCC / 7 D Brad Owen Pam Roach Trade & Economic Development 4 MCC / 3 D Sharon Brown Maralyn Chase Transportation 9 MCC / 6 D Curtis King Steve Hobbs Ways & Means 13 MCC / 10 D Andy Hill James Hargrove 1. Brad Owen served as Lieutenant Governor, which also serves as president of the state Senate and always chairs the Rules committee.

List of MCC members District Senator Party Residence First elected 2 Randi Becker Republican Eatonville 2008 4 Mike Padden Republican Spokane Valley 2011† 6 Michael Baumgartner Republican Spokane 2010 7 Brian Dansel Republican Republic 2013† 8 Sharon Brown Republican Kennewick 2013* 9 Mark Schoesler Republican Ritzville 2004 10 Barbara Bailey Republican Oak Harbor 2012 12 Linda Evans Parlette Republican Wenatchee 2000 13 Judy Warnick Republican Moses Lake 2014 14 Curtis King Republican Yakima 2007† 15 Jim Honeyford Republican Sunnyside 1998 16 Mike Hewitt Republican Walla Walla 2000 17 Don Benton Republican Vancouver 1996 18 Ann Rivers Republican La Center 2012 20 John Braun Republican Centralia 2012 25 Bruce Dammeier Republican Puyallup 2012 26 Jan Angel Republican Port Orchard 2013† 28 Steve O'Ban Republican Tacoma 2013* 30 Mark Miloscia Republican Federal Way 2014 31 Pam Roach Republican Sumner 1990 35 Tim Sheldon Democratic (MCC) Potlatch 1996 39 Kirk Pearson Republican Monroe 2012 41 Steve Litzow Republican Mercer Island 2010† 42 Doug Ericksen Republican Ferndale 2010 45 Andy Hill Republican Redmond 2010 47 Joe Fain Republican Auburn 2010 48 Rodney Tom Democratic (MCC) Bellevue 2010^ * Originally appointed † Originally Elected in Special Election ^ Until 2015

Responses Most local media initially responded with cautious optimism to the announced coalition, though a columnist in the Spokesman-Review responded with skepticism. Democratic leaders denounced the MCC as "the exact opposite of collaboration" and denied that it was bi-partisan.

See also Washington State Legislature Independent Democratic Conference

References

External links Official Announcement Video of News Conference Announcing Senate Coalition Governing Principles of the Coalition Caucus Coalition Committee Structure