2026 Washington State Senate election
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November 3, 2026
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24 of 49 seats in the Washington State Senate 25 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Washington (state) |
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The 2026 Washington State Senate election will be held on November 3, 2026, alongside the other 2026 United States elections.[1] Voters will elect 24 of the 49 the members of the Washington State Senate in the U.S. state of Washington's legislative districts to serve a four-year term.[2]
This will be the first electoral cycle for this cohort of State Senators using the new legislative district boundaries after the court ordered redistricting in 2024. The redistricting was triggered when U.S. District Court Judge for the Western District of Washington Robert Lasnik ruled that the 15th District as it was drawn in 2022 was in violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.[3] The seats up for election in the State Senate in 2026 that had boundary changes due to this redistricting are District 7, District 8, District 13, District 15, and District 31.[4]
Partisan Background
Of the State Senate seats that are up for election in 2026, only the 35th District is held by a Republican in a legislative district that Kamala Harris won in 2024. In addition, of the districts with a Senator up for election in 2026, only the 26th District has a member of the State House from the same district who is of a different party than the incumbent State Senator.
All other districts are represented by the party whose presidential nominee carried the district in 2024 and are of the same political party as both members of the State House from their district.
| Harris 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% 90–100% | Trump 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% |
Outgoing incumbents
Retirements
- District 8: Matt Boehnke (R) is retiring to run for Congress.[5]
- District 29: Steve Conway (D) is retiring.[6]
- District 37: Rebecca Saldaña (D) is retiring to run for the King County Council.[7]
- District 42: Sharon Shewmake (D) is retiring.[8]
Incumbents Running in a New District
- District 15: Nikki Torres (R) is running in the 8th District.[5]
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[9] | Safe D | January 22, 2026 |
Summary of results by district
- Districts not listed were not up for election in 2026.
- † Incumbent did not seek re-election in that seat.
| District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Outcome | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6th | Jeff Holy | Rep | TBD | |||
| 7th | Shelly Short | Rep | TBD | |||
| 8th | Matt Boehnke† | Rep | TBD | |||
| 13th | Judy Warnick | Rep | TBD | |||
| 15th | Nikki Torres† | Rep | TBD | |||
| 21st | Marko Liias | Dem | TBD | |||
| 26th | Deborah Krishnadasan | Dem | TBD | |||
| 29th | Steve Conway† | Dem | TBD | |||
| 30th | Claire Wilson | Dem | TBD | |||
| 31st | Phil Fortunato | Rep | TBD | |||
| 32nd | Jesse Salomon | Dem | TBD | |||
| 33rd | Tina Orwall | Dem | TBD | |||
| 34th | Emily Alvarado | Dem | TBD | |||
| 35th | Drew MacEwen | Rep | TBD | |||
| 36th | Noel Frame | Dem | TBD | |||
| 37th | Rebecca Saldaña† | Dem | TBD | |||
| 38th | June Robinson | Dem | TBD | |||
| 42nd | Sharon Shewmake† | Dem | TBD | |||
| 43rd | Jamie Pedersen | Dem | TBD | |||
| 44th | John Lovick | Dem | TBD | |||
| 45th | Manka Dhingra | Dem | TBD | |||
| 46th | Javier Valdez | Dem | TBD | |||
| 47th | Claudia Kauffman | Dem | TBD | |||
| 48th | Vandana Slatter | Dem | TBD | |||
List of districts
|
District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 13 • District 15 • District 21 • District 26 • District 29 • District 30 • District 31 • District 32 • District 33 • District 34 • District 35 • District 36 • District 37 • District 38 • District 42 • District 43 • District 44 • District 45 • District 46 • District 47 • District 48 |
District 6
The 6th district is represented by Republican Jeff Holy, who is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.
Candidates
Filed paperwork
District 7
The 7th district is represented by Republican Shelly Short, who is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if she will do so.
Candidates
Filed paperwork
- Shelly Short (Republican), incumbent state senator[11]
District 8
The 8th district is represented by Republican Matt Boehnke, who is retiring to run for U.S. House in Washington's 4th congressional district to replace retiring incumbent Dan Newhouse (R-Sunnyside).[5]
Candidates
Declared
- Gabe Galbraith (Republican), president of the Kennewick School Board[12]
- Nikki Torres (Republican), incumbent state senator for the 15th district[13]
Declined
- Matt Boehnke (Republican), incumbent state senator (running for U.S. House)[5]
Endorsements
State legislators
- Stephanie Barnard, state representative from the 8th district[13]
- April Connors, state representative from the 8th district[13]
District 13
The 13th district is represented by Republican Judy Warnick, who is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if she will do so.
Candidates
Filed paperwork
- Judy Warnick (Republican), incumbent state senator[14]
District 15
The 15th district is represented by Republican Nikki Torres, who initially was going to run for re-election in this seat, but decided to run for the 8th district's open state senate seat vacated by Matt Boehnke.[13][15]
Sen. Torres was first elected to this seat in 2022, but was drawn out of the district by court ordered redistricting in 2024.[3][4] She continued to represent the district in the Senate despite no longer residing in it.
Candidates
Declared
- Jeremie Dufault (Republican), state representative[16]
Declined
- Nikki Torres (Republican), incumbent state senator[13]
Endorsements
District 21
The 21st district is represented by Democrat Marko Liias, who is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.
Candidates
Filed paperwork
- Marko Liias (Democratic), incumbent state senator[17]
District 26
The 26th district is represented by Democrat Deborah Krishnadasan, who is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if she will do so.
Candidates
Filed paperwork
- Deborah Krishnadasan (Democratic), incumbent state senator[18]
District 29
The 29th district is represented by Democrat Steve Conway, who is retiring. Sharlett Mena confirmed she would run for the seat and Melanie Morgan, the other state representative for the district, stated she would support Rep. Mena for the state senate seat.[6]
Candidates
Declared
- Sharlett Mena (Democratic), incumbent state representative for the 29th District[6]
Declined
- Steve Conway (Democratic), incumbent state senator for the 29th District[6]
- Melanie Morgan (Democratic), incumbent state representative for the 29th District[6]
District 30
The 30th district is represented by Democrat Claire Wilson, who is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if she will do so.
Candidates
Filed paperwork
- Paul McDaniel (Independent), appointed Federal Way city councilmember (2023-2025) and Republican candidate for District 30 Position 1 in 2022.[19][20][21][22] He has also filed to run for State House in District 30 for the 2026 election.[23]
- Claire Wilson (Democratic), incumbent state senator[24]
District 31
The 31st district is represented by Republican Phil Fortunato, who is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.
Candidates
Filed paperwork
- Phil Fortunato (Republican), incumbent state senator[25]
- Tamara Stramel (Democratic)[26]
District 32
The 32nd district is represented by Democrat Jesse Salomon, who is running for re-election.[27]
Candidates
Declared
- Cindy Ryu (Democratic), state representative[27]
- Jesse Salomon (Democratic), incumbent state senator[27]
District 33
The 33rd district is represented by Democrat Tina Orwall, who is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.
Candidates
Potential
- Tina Orwall (Democratic), incumbent state senator
District 34
The 34th district is represented by Democrat Emily Alvarado, who is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if she will do so.
Candidates
Filed paperwork
- Emily Alvarado (Democratic), incumbent state senator[28]
District 35
The 35th district is represented by Republican Drew MacEwen, who is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.
Candidates
Filed paperwork
- Drew MacEwen (Republican), incumbent state senator[29]
District 36
The 36th district is represented by Democrat Noel Frame, who is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if she will do so.
Candidates
Filed paperwork
- Noel Frame (Democratic), incumbent state senator[30]
District 37
The 37th district is represented by Democrat Rebecca Saldaña, who will not run for re-election. She will run for the King County Council District 2 seat that was vacated by Girmay Zahilay when he won election to become King County Executive in November 2025. The two representatives for the district Chipalo Street and Sharon Tomiko Santos stated that they discussed who should run for her vacant seat and decided that Rep. Street would.[31]
Candidates
Declared
- Chipalo Street (Democratic), state representative[32]
Declined
- Rebecca Saldaña (Democratic), incumbent state senator[33]
- Sharon Tomiko Santos (Democratic), state representative[34]
District 38
The 38th district is represented by Democrat June Robinson, who is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if she will do so.
Candidates
Filed paperwork
- June Robinson (Democratic), incumbent state senator[35]
District 42
The 42nd district is represented by Democrat Sharon Shewmake, who will not seek re-election.[8] Both Democratic State Representatives for the district have also declined to seek the Senate seat.[36][37]
Candidates
Declared
- Michael Shepard (Democratic), Port of Bellingham commissioner[36]
Filed paperwork
- Erika Creydt (Republican), Blaine School Board director[38][39]
- Ryan Bowman (No party preference)[40]
Publicly expressed interest
- Simon Sefzik (Republican), former state senator[37]
Potential
- Ben Elenbaas (Republican), incumbent Whatcom County Council member[37]
Declined
- Sharon Shewmake (Democratic), incumbent state senator[8]
- Joe Timmons (Democratic), state representative[37]
- Alicia Rule (Democratic), state representative[36]
District 43
The 43rd district is represented by Democrat and incumbent Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, who is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.
Candidates
Filed paperwork
- Jamie Pedersen (Democratic), incumbent state senator and Senate majority leader[41]
District 44
The 44th district is represented by Democrat John Lovick, who is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.
Candidates
Filed paperwork
- John Lovick (Democratic), incumbent state senator[42]
District 45
The 45th district is represented by Democrat Manka Dhingra, who is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if she will do so.
Candidates
Filed paperwork
- Manka Dhingra (Democratic), incumbent state senator[43]
District 46
The 46th district is represented by Democrat Javier Valdez, who is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.
Candidates
Filed paperwork
- Javier Valdez (Democratic), incumbent state senator[44]
District 47
The 47th district is represented by Democrat Claudia Kauffman, who is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if she will do so.
Candidates
Filed paperwork
- Carmen Goers (Republican), banker and runner-up for U.S. representative from WA-08 in 2024[45]
- Claudia Kauffman (Democratic), incumbent state senator[46]
District 48
The 48th district is represented by Democrat Vandana Slatter, who is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if she will do so.
Candidates
Filed paperwork
- Vandana Slatter (Democratic), incumbent state senator[47]
References
- ^ Booker, Brakkton (2025-07-29). "The 2026 midterms are officially underway". POLITICO. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ^ "Washington State Senate elections, 2026". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
- ^ a b "Judge OKs new WA legislative map". The Seattle Times. 2024-03-16. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ^ a b Cornfield, Jerry (2024-05-08). "Washington Republicans wrestle with realities of a redrawn political map • Washington State Standard". Washington State Standard. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ^ a b c d Cornfield, Jerry (January 22, 2026). "State senator is latest Republican to join central WA congressional race". Washington State Standard. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e "Veteran Democratic state Sen. Steve Conway to retire from WA Legislature • Washington State Standard". Washington State Standard. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
- ^ Goldstein-Street, Jake (2025-12-09). "WA state Sen. Rebecca Saldaña won't seek reelection • Washington State Standard". Washington State Standard. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
- ^ a b c Teehan, Joe (2025-12-02). "State Senator Sharon Shewmake says she won't seek reelection in 2026". My Bellingham Now. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
- ^ Jacobson, Louis (January 22, 2026). "Handicapping The 2026 State Legislative Map: A First Look". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
- ^ "Jeff Holy | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ^ "Shelly Short | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ^ Rosane, Eric (2025-01-06). "Tri-Cities school board leader plans WA Senate run amid political shakeup". Tri-City Herald. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
- ^ a b c d e Cornfield, Jerry (2026-01-22). "State senator is latest Republican to join central WA congressional race • Washington State Standard". Washington State Standard. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
- ^ "Judy Warnick | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ^ Kenzo Sundeen, Jasper (March 27, 2025). "State Sen. Nikki Torres announces reelection bid for 15th District". Yakima Herald-Republic. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ^ a b c Lee, Bobby (2025-03-28). "Yakima's Rep. Jeremie Dufault announces state Senate run". NonStop Local Tri-Cities/Yakima. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ^ "Marko Liias | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ^ "Deborah Krishnadasan | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
- ^ "Candidate Finance Report | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ^ "City Council appoints Paul McDaniel as the newest member for Position 2 | City of Federal Way". www.federalwaywa.gov. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ^ "King County August 5, 2025 Primary". results.vote.wa.gov. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ^ Staff, Mirror (2022-04-27). "Paul McDaniel announces run for 30th LD State Representative". Federal Way Mirror. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ^ "Candidate Finance Report | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ^ "Claire Wilson | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ^ "Phil Fortunato | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ^ "Candidate Finance Report | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ^ a b c Cornfield, Jerry (2025-07-07). "WA House member looks to unseat senator from her own party • Washington State Standard". Washington State Standard. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ^ "Emily Alvarado | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ^ "Drew MacEwen | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ^ "Noel Frame | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ^ Goldstein-Street, Jake (2025-12-09). "WA state Sen. Rebecca Saldaña won't seek reelection • Washington State Standard". Washington State Standard. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
- ^ Goldstein-Street, Jake (2025-12-09). "WA state Sen. Rebecca Saldaña won't seek reelection • Washington State Standard". Washington State Standard. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
- ^ "Rebecca Saldaña | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ^ Goldstein-Street, Jake (2025-12-09). "WA state Sen. Rebecca Saldaña won't seek reelection • Washington State Standard". Washington State Standard. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
- ^ "June Robinson | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ^ a b c Tellman, Julia (2025-12-08). "Port of Bellingham commissioner announces run for state senate". Washington State Standard. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
- ^ a b c d Tellman, Julia (2025-12-01). "WA state Sen. Sharon Shewmake not running for reelection in 2026". Washington State Standard. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
- ^ "Erika Creydt | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
- ^ Alden, Charlotte (2026-01-19). "Blaine School Board director Erika Creydt announces run for state Senate | Cascadia Daily News". Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ^ "Candidate Finance Report | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ^ "Jamie Pedersen | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ^ "John Lovick | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ^ "Manka Dhingra | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ^ "Javier Valdez | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ^ "Carmen Goers | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
- ^ "Claudia Kauffman | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ^ "Vandana Slatter | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2026-01-15.