Washington State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2024
Washington Legislative District 17
A district of about 162,000 people, 38% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+8.4 relative to the nation for president.
2024 election
Nov 5, 2024- Paul Harris (R) · won51.1%
- Marla Keethler (D)48.8%
Source: Washington Secretary of StateUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 12:29 PM ET
Where it sits among all 49 seats
Every Washington State Senate seat by partisan lean, from most Democratic to most Republican. Lean is the seat's presidential vote on current lines, relative to the nation.
Democratic
Source: 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET
Every election for this seat
15 races since 1968; the seat changed party 3 times. District numbers are redrawn after each census: each group is one set of lines.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Won by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lines first used in 2024 | |||
| 2024 | Paul Harris (R) | Marla Keethler (D) | 2.3 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2020 | Lynda Wilson (R) | Daniel Smith (D) | 9.1 |
| 2016 | Lynda Wilson (R) | Tim Probst (I) | 10.2 |
| 2012 | Don Benton (R) | Tim Probst (D) | 0.1 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2008 | Don Benton (R) | David Carrier (D) | 2.3 |
| 2004 | Don Benton (R) | Paul G. Waadevig (D) | 12.1 |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 2000 | Don Benton (R) | Lou Peterson (D) | 6.3 |
| 1996 | Don Benton (R)Flip | Shirley Galloway (D) | 1.9 |
| 1992 | Dean Sutherland (D) | Heenan (R) | 11.5 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1988 | Dean Sutherland (D)Flip | Rohrbacher (R) | 0.5 |
| 1984 | Harold S. Zimmerman (R) | Betty Thompson (D) | 19.9 |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1980 | Harold S. Zimmerman (R)Flip | Al Henry (D) | 5.6 |
| 1976 | Al Henry (D) | R. E. Hornibrook (R) | 22.9 |
| 1972 | Al Henry (D) | James L. Watson (R) | 17.4 |
| Lines first used in 1962 | |||
| 1968 | Al Henry (D) | George F. Christensen Jr. (R) | 6.5 |
Won by: the winner's lead over the runner-up, in points of the vote. Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Districts that overlap District 17
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 17's area in each.
- Washington House of Representatives
- LD-17 100%
Every race on these lines
Results recomputed from precinct returns as if today's boundaries had always existed, so years compare like for like.
| 2020 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| President | D+5.9 | D+9.7 |
| U.S. Senate | No race | D+9.0 |
| Governor | D+2.0 | D+4.6 |
Outlined: the race for this seat itselfBlank: no race that year
Source: 99chambers results archive: precinct results allocated to current lines; 2026: civicAPIUpdated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Who lives here, compared
Grey bars show the spread of all 49 seats. Small marks are other seats in Washington. The black marker is District 17.
Higher than 60% of seats.
Higher than 62% of seats.
Lower than 56% of seats.
Lower than 58% of seats.
Higher than 54% of seats.
Less dense than 79% of seats.
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current linesUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM ET
Seats most like this one
Nearest seats on demographics, density and lean. 1 of the 4 flipped this year.
District 4234% college gradsD+11.3Held DDistrict 10
32% college gradsD+7.9Not up in 2026District 35
30% college gradsD+0.3Flipped DDistrict 12
38% college gradsD+2.2Not up in 2026
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current lines; 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET