Washington State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2024
Washington Legislative District 23
A district of about 159,000 people, 44% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+33.7 relative to the nation for president.
2024 election
Nov 5, 2024- Drew Hansen (D) · won64.2%
- Lance Byrd (R)35.7%
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 1 time. 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 | Drew Hansen (D) | Lance Byrd (R) | 28.6 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2020 | Christine Rolfes (D) | Pam Madden-Boyer (R) | 27.9 |
| 2016 | Christine Rolfes (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 2012 | Christine Rolfes (D) | Bret A. Treadwell (R) | 30.2 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2008 | Phil Rockefeller (D) | Connie Lord (R) | 23.8 |
| 2004 | Phil Rockefeller (D) | Douglas G. Kitchens (R) | 16.7 |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 2000 | Betti L. Sheldon (D) | Dan Murphy (R) | 14.9 |
| 1996 | Betti L. Sheldon (D) | Steve Hargrove (R) | 2.4 |
| 1992 | Betti L. Sheldon (D) | Ellen Craswell (R) | 10.8 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1988 | Ellen Craswell (R) | Griffith (D) | 2.1 |
| 1984 | Ellen Craswell (R) | Huff (D) | 8.0 |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1980 | Ellen Craswell (R)Flip | Gordon L. Walgren (D) | 47.0 |
| 1976 | Gordon L. Walgren (D) | Sam Clarke (R) | 51.9 |
| 1972 | Gordon L. Walgren (D) | T. F. Drake (R) | 59.4 |
| Lines first used in 1962 | |||
| 1968 | Gordon L. Walgren (D) | William R. Dane (R) | 21.0 |
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 23
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 23's area in each.
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 | |
|---|---|
| President | D+31.5 |
| Governor | D+26.2 |
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 23.
Higher than 69% of seats.
Lower than 54% of seats.
Lower than 67% of seats.
Higher than 58% of seats.
Lower than 52% of seats.
Less dense than 52% 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.
District 2245% college gradsD+39.1Not up in 2026District 40
46% college gradsD+42.5Not up in 2026District 3
38% college gradsD+24.5Not up in 2026District 49
30% college gradsD+24.5Not 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