# 2012 Washington State Senate election

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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. 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, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Seats | +/– |
| | Democratic | 12 | 1 |
| | Republican | 14 | 1 |
| | Independent | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 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 |
* ↑ Including the 27th district, an open seat with two Democrats running against each other in the general election.
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 | Since Dec 10, 2012 | Seats |
| | Democratic | 24 |
| | Mostly Republican "Majority Coalition Caucus" | 25 |
| Total | Total | 49 |
* 1 2 On December 10, Democratic Senators Sheldon and Tom announced they would caucus with the Republicans, creating a conservative coalition majority (25-24).'"`UNIQ--ref-00000038-QINU`"'

## Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| Governing | Tossup | October 24, 2012 |

## Seats up for election

Results as reported by the Secretary of State:

### District 1

Washington's 1st legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Rosemary McAuliffe (inc.) | 37,316 | 55.49 |
| | Republican | Dawn McCravey | 29,932 | 44.51 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 67,248 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 2

Washington's 2nd legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Randi Becker (inc.) | 31,946 | 56.81 |
| | Democratic | Bruce L. Lachney | 24,286 | 43.19 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 56,232 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 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 | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Andy Billig | 29,609 | 57.85 |
| | Republican | Nancy McLaughlin | 21,576 | 42.15 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 51,185 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 4

Washington's 4th legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Padden (inc.) | 49,593 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 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.
Washington's 5th legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Brad Toft | 30,683 | 45,58 |
| | Democratic | Mark Mullet | 36,630 | 54.42 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 67,313 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### District 9

Washington's 9th Legislative District election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mark G. Schoesler (inc.) | 39,390 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 10

Washington's 10th legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mary Margaret Haugen (inc.) | 33,708 | 47.18 |
| | Republican | Barbara Bailey | 37,732 | 52.82 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 71,440 | 100.00 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 11

Incumbent Margarita Prentice was redistricted out of the 11th LD, and declined to run for election in the new district.
Washington's 11th legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bob Hasegawa | 34,301 | 69.34 |
| | Republican | Kristin Thompson | 15,170 | 30.66 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 49,471 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 12

Washington's 12th legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Linda Evans Parlette (inc.) | 44,318 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 14

Washington's 14th legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Curtis King (inc.) | 40,394 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 16

Washington's 16th legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Hewitt (inc.) | 32,717 | 69.74 |
| | Democratic | Scott Nettles | 14,197 | 30.26 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 46,914 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 17

Washington's 17th legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Don Benton (inc.) | 27,542 | 50.07 |
| | Democratic | Tim Probst | 27,468 | 49.93 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 54,864 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
* ↑ Hand recount
* ↑ Hand recount

### District 18

Washington's 18th legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ann Rivers (inc.) | 42,924 | 67.86 |
| | Democratic | Ralph Schmidt | 20,330 | 32.14 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 63,254 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 19

Washington's 19th legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Brian Hatfield (inc.) | 34,590 | 62.16 |
| | Republican | Rick Winsman | 21,056 | 37.84 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 55,646 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 20

Washington's 20th legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dan Swecker (inc.) | 24,075 | 44.57 |
| | Republican | John Braun | 29,943 | 55.43 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 54,018 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 22

Washington's 22nd legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Karen Fraser (inc.) | 50,389 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 23

Washington's 23rd legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Christine Rolfes (inc.) | 43,305 | 65.08 |
| | Republican | Bret A. Treadwell | 23,235 | 34.92 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 66,540 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 24

Washington's 24th legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Hargrove (inc.) | 44,417 | 65.44 |
| | Independent | Larry Carter | 23,455 | 34.56 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 67,872 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 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.
Washington's 25th legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Eric Herde | 21,517 | 38.26 |
| | Republican | Bruce Dammeier | 34,715 | 61.74 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 56,232 | 100.00 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 27

Incumbent Debbie Regala retired at the end of her term.
Washington's 27th legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jeannie Darneille | 30,939 | 57.29 |
| | Democratic | John R. Connelly | 23,068 | 42.71 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 54,007 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 28

Washington's 28th legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Carrell (inc.) | 32,146 | 58.40 |
| | Democratic | Yoshie Wong | 22,896 | 41.60 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 55,042 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 39

Incumbent Val Stevens retired at the end of her term.
Washington's 39th legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kirk Pearson | 33,449 | 57.62 |
| | Democratic | Scott Olson | 24,603 | 42.38 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 58,052 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 40

Washington's 40th legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent Republican | John Swapp | 23,959 | 37.07 |
| | Democratic | Kevin Ranker (inc.) | 40,677 | 62.93 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 64,636 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 41

Washington's 41st legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Steve Litzow (inc.) | 37,314 | 54.04 |
| | Democratic | Maureen Judge | 31,734 | 45.96 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 69,048 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 46

Washington's 46th legislative district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | David Frockt (inc.) | 56,124 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 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 | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Annette Cleveland | 30,390 | 58.42 |
| | Republican | Eileen Quiring O'Brien | 21,634 | 41.58 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 52,024 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |