The2014WashingtonState Senate elections is one of the biennial legislative elections inWashington that took place on November 4, 2014. In this election, about half of the49 legislative districts inWashington chose a state senator for a four-year term to theWashington State Senate. 24 seats were regularly scheduled to be up this cycle, along with 1 additional seat holding a special election to fill an unexpired term: the 28th district, held by appointed SenatorSteve O'Ban, whose former incumbentMike Carrell vacated the seat. Republicans had flipped another seat in a 2013 special election, giving them 24 seats heading into the 2014 elections, with two Democrats caucusing with them to provide them a majority.
Atop two primary election on August 5, 2014, determined which candidates appear on the November ballot. Candidates were allowed to declare a party preference.[1]
Republicans won the 30th district afterMark Miloscia switched parties and won re-election as a Republican. Democrats flipped the 48th district from a Democrat who caucused with the Republicans,Rodney Tom. While this kept the state senate at 26-23 in favor of theMajority Coalition Caucus, only one Democrat remained in the coalition.
^Including open seats with two candidates of the same party competing in the general election.
^abThough he self-identifies as a Democrat, Senator Sheldon has caucused with the Republicans in the "Majority Coalition Caucus" since 10 December 2012 and has been disowned by Democratic organizations throughout the state and in his own district.
^The previous state senator,Rodney Tom, self-identifies as a Democrat and was elected as such in 2006 and again in 2010. However, he began his career as a Republican in the state house before 2006, and has been functionally independent since 10 December 2012 when he (with fellow DemocratTim Sheldon caucused with the Republicans in the "Majority Coalition Caucus"; Tom was thereafter disowned by Democratic organizations throughout the state and in his own district. For all practical purposes, he was a political independent, so Habib's election amounted to a Democratic gain over an independent.
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