Majority Coalition Caucus

Last updated

Majority Coalition Caucus of the State of Washington
President Pro Tempore of the Senate Tim Sheldon (D)
(2012–2015)
Pam Roach (R)
(2015–2017)
Tim Sheldon (D)
(2017)
Senate Majority Leader Rodney Tom (D)
(2012–2014)
Mark Schoesler (R)
(2014–2017)
Senate Republican Caucus Leader Mark Schoesler (R)
FoundedDecember 10, 2012 (2012-12-10)
DissolvedNovember 15, 2017 (2017-11-15)
Ideology 2012–2015:
Bipartisanship
Syncreticism
2015–2017:
Fiscal conservatism
Social moderatism
Political position Center to center-right
Seats in the State Senate (at dissolution)
24 / 49

The Majority Coalition Caucus (MCC) was a caucus formed on December 10, 2012, by all 23 Republican members of the Washington State Senate and two Democratic senators. Its membership constituted a majority of the chamber's 49 members, allowing it to take control of the Senate from the Democratic caucus whose members had previously formed a majority. The MCC, operating much like a coalition government, offered an equal number of committee leadership positions to Republicans and Democrats. Senate Democrats accepted only three of the nine positions offered them. The Republicans strengthened their position by gaining one seat in the 2013 election, but lost its majority following a special election in November 2017. The coalition has 23 Republicans and one self-identified Democratic senator, Tim Sheldon. On November 15, 2017, the Majority Coalition Caucus returned to being the state Senate Republican Caucus. [1]

Contents

Formation and organization

In the November 2012 elections, Republicans gained one seat in the Washington State Senate, reducing the Democratic majority to 26 out of 49 seats. On December 10, 2012, two Democratic state senators, Tim Sheldon and Rodney Tom, announced they would caucus with the Republicans to create a Republican Majority Caucus with 25 of 49 seats. [2] [3]

The MCC has the power to appoint the chairpersons and members of the twelve policy and three fiscal committees that play a leading role in considering and advancing legislation, much like U.S. Senate committees. The MCC proposed six Republican chairs and six Democratic chairs and co-chairs drawn from both parties for the remaining committees.

Senate Democrats rejected offers to chair or co-chair any committees offered them except three: Steve Hobbs chaired the Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee, Brian Hatfield chaired the Agriculture, Water & Rural Economic Development Committee, and Tracey Eide co-chaired the Transportation Committee with Curtis King. [4] However, by December 2014 Hobbs, Hatfield, and Eide's roles had been reduced to "ranking minority member" on each of their committees in favor of Republican leadership. [5]

The MCC's two Democratic members were given leadership positions: Rodney Tom was Senate Majority Leader, Tim Sheldon (MCC) was the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Republican Mark Schoesler headed the Senate Republican Caucus, which continued to operate even while all its members belong as well to the MCC. [2] [6]

The election of Republican Jan Angel in 2013 to the Senate gave the MCC 26 of the 49 seats. Rodney Tom characterized this as an "exponential" increase in the coalition's leverage. [7]

In the 2014 election Rodney Tom decided not to seek re-election because of family problems. However, the caucus maintained its majority with 26 senators. [8]

The Majority Coalition Caucus lost its majority in the 2017 special election, which saw the election of Democrat Manka Dhingra. On 15 November 2017 the Majority Coalition Caucus was dissolved and all of its members rejoined the Senate Republican Caucus; despite being registered as a Democrat, Tim Sheldon continued to caucus with Republicans. [9]

In the 2018 election, Washington Democratic Party regained its majority in the Senate, electing 28 seats.

Composition

The caucus at peak membership in January 2014. Majority:
.mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{}
Republicans (24)
Coalition Democrats (2)
Non-Coalition Democrats in Majority (3)
Minority:
Democrats (20) WashingtonStateSenateMCC.svg
The caucus at peak membership in January 2014. Majority:
  Republicans (24)
  Coalition Democrats (2)
  Non-Coalition Democrats in Majority (3)
Minority:
  Democrats (20)
AffiliationParty
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
CoalitionNon-coalition
Republican Democratic Vacant
After 2012 Election23224490
2013 Session232321490
2014 Session242320490
2015–16 Session25123490
2017 Session24124490

Majority Coalition Caucus-Led Committees

CommitteeMakeupChairRanking Member
Accountability & Reform3 MCC / 2 D Mark Miloscia Pramila Jayapal
Agriculture, Water & Rural Economic Development3 MCC / 2 D Judith Warnick Brian Hatfield
Commerce & Labor4 MCC / 3 D Michael Baumgartner Bob Hasegawa
Early Learning & K-12 Education5 MCC / 4 D Steve Litzow Rosemary McAuliffe
Energy, Environment & Telecommunications5 MCC / 4 D Doug Ericksen John McCoy
Financial Institutions & Insurance5 MCC / 4 D Don Benton Mark Mullet
Government Operations & State Security4 MCC / 3 D Pam Roach Marko Liias
Health Care8 MCC / 5 D Randi Becker David Frockt
Higher Education4 MCC / 3 D Barbara Bailey Jeanne Kohl-Welles
Human Services, Mental Health & Housing3 MCC / 2 D Steve O'Ban Jeannie Darneille
Law & Justice4 MCC / 3 D Mike Padden Jamie Pedersen
Natural Resources & Parks4 MCC / 3 D Kirk Pearson Brian Hatfield
Rules11 MCC / 7 D Brad Owen Pam Roach
Trade & Economic Development4 MCC / 3 D Sharon Brown Maralyn Chase
Transportation9 MCC / 6 D Curtis King Steve Hobbs
Ways & Means13 MCC / 10 D Andy Hill James Hargrove

List of MCC members

DistrictSenatorPartyResidenceFirst elected
2 Randi Becker Republican Eatonville 2008
4 Mike Padden Republican Spokane Valley 2011†
6 Michael Baumgartner Republican Spokane 2010
7 Brian Dansel Republican Republic 2013†
8 Sharon Brown Republican Kennewick 2013*
9 Mark Schoesler Republican Ritzville 2004
10 Barbara Bailey Republican Oak Harbor 2012
12 Linda Evans Parlette Republican Wenatchee 2000
13 Judy Warnick Republican Moses Lake 2014
14 Curtis King Republican Yakima 2007†
15 Jim Honeyford Republican Sunnyside 1998
16 Mike Hewitt Republican Walla Walla 2000
17 Don Benton Republican Vancouver 1996
18 Ann Rivers Republican La Center 2012
20 John Braun Republican Centralia 2012
25 Bruce Dammeier Republican Puyallup 2012
26 Jan Angel Republican Port Orchard 2013†
28 Steve O'Ban Republican Tacoma 2013*
30 Mark Miloscia Republican Federal Way 2014
31 Pam Roach Republican Sumner 1990
35 Tim Sheldon Democratic (MCC) Potlatch 1996
39 Kirk Pearson Republican Monroe 2012
41 Steve Litzow Republican Mercer Island 2010†
42 Doug Ericksen Republican Ferndale 2010
45 Andy Hill Republican Redmond 2010
47 Joe Fain Republican Auburn 2010
  • Originally appointed
†Originally Elected in Special Election

Responses

Most local media initially responded with cautious optimism to the announced coalition, [10] though a columnist in the Spokesman-Review responded with skepticism. [11] Democratic leaders denounced the MCC as "the exact opposite of collaboration" and denied that it was bi-partisan. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">107th United States Congress</span> 2001-2003 U.S. Congress

The 107th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C., from January 3, 2001, to January 3, 2003, during the final weeks of the Clinton presidency and the first two years of the George W. Bush presidency. The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the 1990 United States census.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) is the Democratic Hill committee for the United States Senate. It is the only organization solely dedicated to electing Democrats to the United States Senate. The DSCC's current Chair is Senator Gary Peters of Michigan, who succeeded Nevada‘s Catherine Cortez Masto after the 2020 Senate elections. DSCC's current executive director is Christie Roberts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York State Senate</span> Upper state chamber of New York State

The New York State Senate is the upper house of the New York State Legislature, while the New York State Assembly is its lower house. Established in 1777 by the Constitution of New York, its members are elected to two-year terms with no term limits. There are currently 63 seats in the Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kansas Republican Party</span> Kansas affiliate of the Republican Party

The Kansas Republican Party is the state affiliate political party in Kansas of the United States Republican Party. The Kansas Republican Party was organized in May 1859.

In U.S. politics, an independent Democrat is an individual who loosely identifies with the ideals of the Democratic Party but chooses not to be a formal member of the party or is denied the Democratic nomination in a caucus or primary election. Independent Democrat is not a political party. Several elected officials, including members of Congress, have identified as independent Democrats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Sheldon</span> American farmer, businessman and politician from Washington

Timothy Markham Sheldon is an American farmer, businessman, and politician who served as a member of the Washington State Senate, representing the 35th District between 1997 and 2023. The district includes all of Mason County and parts of Thurston and Kitsap counties. A member of the Democratic Party, Sheldon caucused with the Republican-dominated Majority Coalition Caucus and afterwards the Republican Caucus from 2012. He previously represented Mason County as a Mason County Commissioner for District 2 from 2005 to 2017 and served as a member of the Washington House of Representatives from 1991 to 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nebraska Democratic Party</span> Political party in United States

The Nebraska Democratic Party is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the state of Nebraska. Over 700 Democrats are elected across the state of Nebraska. Jane Kleeb is the chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party and also serves as the Midwest Chair of the Association of State Democratic Committees.

Rodney Tom is an American businessman and politician who represented Washington's 48th Legislative District in the state Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Democratic Party of Oregon</span> Oregon affiliate of the Democratic Party

The Democratic Party of Oregon is the Oregon affiliate of the Democratic Party. The State Central Committee, made up of two delegates elected from each of Oregon's 36 counties and one additional delegate for every 15,000 registered Democrats, is the main authoritative body of the party. The party has 17 special group caucuses which also each have representation on the State Central Committee.

The following table indicates the parties of elected officials in the U.S. state of Alaska:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cathy Giessel</span> American politician

Catherine Andrea Giessel is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Alaska, who has served as a member of the Alaska Senate since 2023 and from 2011 to 2021. From 2013 to 2021, Giessel represented District N in the Alaska Senate, including Northeast Anchorage, Anchorage Hillside and the Turnagain Arm communities of Bird, Girdwood, Indian, and Anchorage, all within the Municipality of Anchorage. First elected in 2010 while identifying with Tea Party values, she has also served as the vice-chair of the state Republican Party and had a career in nursing. Following redistricting, she was elected to a different senate seat in 2012. Giessel serves as chair of the Resources Committee and is a member of the Senate Majority Caucus. After Senate President Pete Kelly was unseated in 2018, Giessel was elected president of the Alaska Senate, a post she held until 2021. Giessel returned to the Alaska Senate in 2023, representing the newly configured District E after defeating incumbent Republican Roger Holland. She will serve as Senate majority leader in the 33rd Legislature, overseeing a coalition caucus of eight Republicans and nine Democrats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Washington State Senate election</span> 2012 election in Washington state

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 and the other half are elected in non-presidential even numbered election years. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Washington State Senate election</span> 2014 election in Washington state

The 2014 Washington State Senate elections is one of the biennial legislative elections in Washington took place on November 4, 2014. In this election, about half of the 49 legislative districts in Washington chose a state senator for a four-year term to the Washington State Senate. The other half of state senators were chosen in the next biennial election, so that about half of the senators are elected at a time: one group in presidential election years and the other in other even-numbered election years. All the members of the Washington State House of Representatives are elected concurrently with half of the senators every two years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independent Democratic Conference</span> Political party in the United States

The Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) was a group of several Democratic members of the New York State Senate that was formed to caucus with the Republican Party and protect its status as the majority party. At the time of its dissolution, the IDC included eight members: Jeffrey D. Klein, Marisol Alcantara, Tony Avella, David Carlucci, Jesse Hamilton, Jose Peralta, Diane Savino, and David Valesky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Washington State Senate election</span> 2016 election in Washington state

The 2016 Washington State Senate elections is one of the biennial legislative elections in Washington in which about half of the state's 49 legislative districts choose a state senator for a four-year term to the Washington State Senate. The other half of state senators are chosen in the next biennial election, so that about half of the senators, along with all the members of the Washington State House of Representatives, are elected every two years. 25 seats are regularly scheduled to be up this cycle, along with 1 additional seat holding a special election to fill an unexpired term: the 36th district, currently held by appointed Senator Reuven Carlyle, whose former incumbent Jeanne Kohl-Welles vacated the seat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Washington State Senate election</span> 2018 election in Washington state

The 2018 Washington State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial United States elections. Washington state voters elected state senators in 25 of the state's 49 Senate districts. The other 24 state senators were not up for re-election until the next biennial election in 2020. State senators serve four-year terms in the Washington State Senate. A statewide map of Washington's state legislative districts is provided by the Washington State Legislature here, Archived 2018-10-24 at the Wayback Machine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 United States state legislative elections</span>

Elections to state legislatures were held in 46 U.S. states in 2014 with a total of 6,049 seats up for election. Six territorial chambers were up in four territories and the District of Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 United States state legislative elections</span> State legislature elections in the United States

The 2017 United States state legislative elections were held on November 7, 2017. Three legislative chambers in two states held regularly-scheduled elections. These off-year elections coincided with other state and local elections, including gubernatorial elections in two states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 United States state legislative elections</span> State legislature elections in the United States

The 2013 United States state legislative elections were held on November 5, 2013. Three legislative chambers in two states held regularly-scheduled elections. These off-year elections coincided with other state and local elections, including gubernatorial elections in two states.

References

  1. "MCC returns to the Senate Republican Caucus". Twitter. November 15, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Tom, Rodney; Schoesler, Mark (December 16, 2012). "Op-ed: State Senate's new Majority Coalition Caucus will govern across party lines". Seattle Times. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  3. "Washington State Senate: Republicans Claim Majority After Democrats Defect". HuffPost. December 11, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  4. "Legislature: Power play puts Senate in GOP hands". Seattletimes.com. January 14, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  5. "Republicans begin remaking Senate". The Spokesman-Review. December 14, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  6. "Op-ed: 2013–14 Policy Committee Structure" (PDF). Senate Republicans. December 10, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  7. Jordan Schrader (November 7, 2013). "With Jan Angel's victory, state Senate majority will grow". The News Tribune. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  8. "TVW, Washington States' Public Affairs Network – Public Affairs Made Public" . Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  9. CoalitionWA, Majority (November 15, 2017). "MCC returns to the Senate Republican Caucus. Still a bipartisan coalition dedicated to jobs, education and the budget. Serving all of Washington's families. To continue to follow our caucus and agenda, follow @WashingtonSRC #waleghttp://ow.ly/7xCE30gBs6u". @WashingtonMCC. Retrieved November 21, 2019.{{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  10. Thanh Tan (December 13, 2012). "Editorial Round-Up: Washington newspapers cautiously optimistic about Senate's new Majority Coalition Caucus". Seattle Times. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  11. Jim Camden (December 16, 2012). "Spin Control: Coalition majority might not be so great". Spokesman-Review. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  12. Ed Murray and Karen Fraser (December 13, 2012). "Op-ed: Don't call the state Senate's Majority Coalition Caucus bipartisan". Seattle Times. Retrieved December 16, 2012.