Washington State Senate elections, 2012
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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. Each candidate was allowed to write in whatever party preference he or she desired.
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.[1]
Overview
Washington State Senate elections, 2012 |
Party |
Seats |
+/– |
|
Democratic |
12 |
-1 |
|
Republican |
14 |
+1 |
|
Independent |
0 |
0 |
Total |
26 |
|
Composition
Pre-election |
Seats
|
|
Democratic |
27 |
|
Republican |
22 |
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[2] |
7 |
Post-election |
Seats |
Change |
|
Democratic[3] |
26 |
-1 |
|
Republican |
23 |
+1 |
Total |
49 |
On December 10, 2012, two Democratic Senators[3] joined in a coalition with the Republican Caucus to form a conservative majority, called the "Majority Coalition Caucus".[1]
Since Dec 10, 2012 |
Seats
|
|
Democratic |
24 |
|
Mostly Republican "Majority Coalition Caucus"[3] |
25 |
Total
|
49 |
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.
Washington's 3rd legislative district election, 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
|
Democratic |
Andy Billig |
29,609 |
57.85 |
|
Republican |
Nancy McLaughlin |
21,576 |
42.15 |
Total votes |
51,185 |
100.00 |
|
Democratic hold |
District 4
District 5
Original incumbent Cheryl Pflug resigned in June 2012 to take a seat on the Washington Growth Management Hearings Board.[4] 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.[5]
Washington's 5th legislative district election, 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
|
Republican |
Brad Toft |
30,683 |
45,58 |
|
Democratic |
Mark Mullet |
36,630 |
54.42 |
Total votes |
67,313 |
100.00 |
|
Democratic gain from Republican |
District 9
Washington's 9th Legislative District election, 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
|
Republican |
Mark G. Schoesler (inc.) |
39,390 |
100.00 |
|
Republican hold |
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.[7]
Washington's 27th legislative district election, 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
|
Democratic |
Jeannie Darneille |
30,939 |
57.29 |
|
Democratic |
John R. Connelly |
23,068 |
42.71 |
Total votes |
54,007 |
100.00 |
|
Democratic hold |
District 28
District 39
Incumbent Val Stevens retired at the end of her term.[8]
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.
Washington's 49th legislative district election, 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
|
Democratic |
Annette Cleveland |
30,390 |
58.42 |
|
Republican |
Eileen Qutub |
21,634 |
41.58 |
Total votes |
52,024 |
100.00 |
|
Democratic hold |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rodney Tom and Mark Schoesler (2012-12-16). "Op-ed: State Senate’s new Majority Coalition Caucus will govern across party lines". Seattle Times. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
- ↑ Including the 27th district, an open seat with two Democrats running against each other in the general election.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 On December 10, Senators Sheldon and Tom announced they would caucus with the Republicans, creating a conservative coalition majority (25-24).
- ↑ http://www.issaquahpress.com/2012/07/10/former-sen-cheryl-pflug-lambasts-appointment-of-dino-rossi-as-successor/
- ↑ http://bellevue.patch.com/articles/dino-rossi-state-senator-once-again
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Hand recount
- ↑ http://blog.thenewstribune.com/politics/2011/04/27/sen-debbie-regala-will-retire-at-end-of-term/
- ↑ http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2012/03/29/anti-gay-legislator-retires-fruits-of-their-labor/