OLYMPIA—The Senate Democratic Caucus voted Thursday, November 21, to confirm committee leadership and membership positions for the 2025 legislative session.
The 2025 session will bring eight new members to the Senate Democratic Caucus. Seven senators decided to retire or run for another office following the 2024 legislative session, and Democrats added a 30th member — Sen.-elect Adrian Cortes from the 18th Legislative District — in the 2024 general election.
“Washington voters sent a clear message this year — they want quality public schools, affordable housing and health care, a clean environment, and safe communities,” Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle) said. “With an expanded majority, we’re ready to tackle these priorities in the 2025 legislative session. Our talented team will deliver results for the people of Washington.”
Below in alphabetical order are the members the SDC approved as new chairs and in new committee positions on Thursday:
- Sen.-elect Jessica Bateman: Chair of the Housing Committee (Bateman replaces as chair Sen. Patty Kuderer, who was elected Insurance Commissioner.)
- Sen. Noel Frame: Ways & Means, Vice Chair of Finance (Frame joins Ways & Means in the newly created position of vice chair of Finance.)
- Sen. Claudia Kauffman: Chair of the Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee (Kauffman replaces as chair Sen. Derek Stanford, who becomes vice chair of Ways & Means.)
- Sen. Rebecca Saldaña: Chair of the Labor & Commerce Committee (Saldaña replaces as chair retiring Sen. Karen Keiser.)
- Sen. Jesse Salomon: Chair of the Local Government Committee (Salomon replaces as chair Sen. Liz Lovelett, who joins leadership as deputy majority leader along with Sen. Manka Dhingra.)
- Sen. Sharon Shewmake: Chair of the Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee (Shewmake replaces as chair retiring Sen. Kevin Van De Wege.)
- Sen. Derek Stanford: Ways & Means, Vice Chair of Operating Budget (Stanford replaces Sen. Joe Nguyen, who returns as Chair of the Environment, Energy & Technology Committee.)
- Sen. Yasmin Trudeau: Ways & Means, Vice Chair of Capital Budget (Trudeau replaces retiring Sen. Mark Mullet as the Senate’s capital budget writer.)
- Sen. Javier Valdez: Chair of the State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Committee (Valdez replaces as chair retiring Sen. Sam Hunt.)
You can view the full list of committee membership here.
Below are the members the SDC approved in new leadership positions on Thursday:
- Sen. Liz Lovelett: Deputy Majority Leader (Lovelett joins Sen. Manka Dhingra as deputy majority leader, replacing Sen. Emily Randall who was elected to Congress.)
- Sen.-elect Marcus Riccelli: Majority Floor Leader (Riccelli replaces Sen. Jamie Pedersen who was elected Senate Majority Leader.)
- Sen. Shewmake: Assistant Floor Leader (Shewmake replaces Sen. Frame)
- Sen. Annette Cleveland: Deputy Caucus Chair (Cleveland replaces Sen. Saldaña)
- Sen. Kauffman: Leadership Liaison to Tribal Nations (Kauffman served as co-liaison previously, but becomes the sole liaison as Sen. Stanford moves to vice chair of Ways & Means)
Finally, Senate Democrats agreed on their nominees for two leadership positions for the full Senate, to be elected on the first day of session:
- Sen. Steve Conway: President Pro Tempore (Replaces Sen. Keiser)
- Sen. John Lovick: Vice President Pro Tempore
Pedersen and Sen. Bob Hasegawa were elected majority leader and caucus chair, respectively, on November 11. You can read about their selection here.
Senate Democrats await three additional appointments to fill Senate seats left by Sens. Keiser, Kuderer, and Randall in the 33rd, 48th, and 26th legislative districts, respectively.
Below is the full list of SDC leadership positions:
- MAJORITY LEADER: Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle)
- DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER: Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond)
- DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER: Sen. Liz Lovelett (D-Anacortes)
- FLOOR LEADER: Sen. Elect Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane)
- ASST. FLOOR LEADER: Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham)
- WHIP: Sen. T’wina Nobles (D-Fircrest)
- ASST. WHIP: Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Auburn)
- CAUCUS CHAIR: Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D-Seattle)
- DEPUTY CAUCUS CHAIR: Sen. Annette Cleveland (D-Vancouver)
- PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE: Sen. Steve Conway (D-Tacoma)
- VICE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE: Sen. John Lovick (D-Mill Creek)
- LEADERSHIP LIAISON TO TRIBAL NATIONS: Sen. Claudia Kauffman (D-Kent)
You can learn more about all of these senators by visiting senatedemocrats.wa.gov.
Committee assignments will become official following a full vote of the Senate on the first day of the 2025 legislative session. The 105-day session begins Jan. 13.
SOURCE: Washington Senate Democrats
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
