The 2016 Washington State Senate elections is one of the biennial legislative elections in Washington in which about half of the state's 49 legislative districts choose a state senator for a four-year term to the Washington State Senate. The other half of state senators are chosen in the next biennial election, so that about half of the senators, along with all the members of the Washington State House of Representatives, are elected every two years. 25 seats are regularly scheduled to be up this cycle, along with 1 additional seat holding a special election to fill an unexpired term: the 36th district, currently held by appointed Senator Reuven Carlyle, whose former incumbent Jeanne Kohl-Welles vacated the seat.

Quick Facts 26 seats of the Washington State Senate 25 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...

Washington State Senate elections, 2016

← 2014 November 8, 2016 2018 →
26 seats of the Washington State Senate 25 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Pam Roach Sharon Nelson Party Majority Coalition Caucus[lower-alpha 1] Democratic Leader's seat 31st-Auburn 34th-Vashon Last election 26 23 Seats won 25 24 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 787,912 708,898 Percentage 50.86% 45.82%
Results:      Democratic gain      Republican hold      Democratic hold      No election
President pro tempore before election Pam Roach Republican (Coalition) Elected President pro tempore Tim Sheldon Democratic (Coalition)

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A top two primary election on August 9, 2016 determines which candidates appear on the November ballot. Candidates were allowed to declare a party preference.^[1] The general election took place on November 8, 2016.^[2]

The 2016 Election maintained effective Republican control of the Senate, because self-identified Democrat Tim Sheldon caucuses with the Republicans.