Senate
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Mark G. Schoesler (G) | 43,651 | 65.69% |
| Jenn Goulet (D) | 22,802 | 34.31% |
* Race percentages are calculated with data from the Secretary of State's Office, which omits write-in votes from its calculations when there are too few to affect the outcome. The Spokane County Auditor's Office may have slightly different percentages than are reflected here because its figures include any write-in votes.
About the Race
The Candidates
Mark G. Schoesler
- Party:
- GOP
- City:
- Ritzville, Washington
Education: Graduated from Ritzville High School in 1975. Earned an agriculture business degree from Spokane Community College in 1977.
Work experience: Worked at Federal Crop Insurance until 1978. Farmer and rancher since 1978.
Political experience: Elected to the Senate in 2004, 2008, and 2016. Serves as House minority leader.
Family: Married to wife Ginger Schoesler and has two children.
Campaign fundraising: $315, 444 as of Monday, according to the Public Disclosure Commission. Top donations include $3,500 from Building Owners and Managers Association Political Action Committee of Washington State, $2,500 from the Entertainment Software Association and Warden Hutterian Brethren. Monsanto, Microsoft, Washington Refuse and Recycling Association PAC, Nisqually Indian Tribe and Muckleshoot Indian Tribe each donated $2,000.
Jenn Goulet
- Party:
- Democratic
- Age:
- 47
- City:
- Pasco, Washington
Goulet announced on Facebook in September 2020 that she decided to drop out of the race: "We are moving to Savannah, Georgia this month, where there are better opportunities for my children, including the possibility for my son to attend one of the most prestigious art schools in the nation." Her name, however, will remain on the November ballot.
Education: Graduated from Kennewick High School. Earned Associates degree from College of DuPage in Illinois in general studies. Earned bachelor’s applied management at Columbia Basin College.
Work experience: Works from home. Small business owner performing instructional design services for Microsoft. Previously was a training specialist at the HAMMER Federal Training Center and a technical writer supporting the Department of Energy’s environmental cleanup efforts on the Hanford Site.
Political experience: Ran for state Legislature in 2016 and 2018. Former chairwoman of Franklin County Democrats.
Complete Coverage
Schoesler steps down as Senate GOP leader
After eight years of leading Senate Republicans, Mark Schoesler said Monday he’s stepping down.
Millions spent on legislative races but not much change expected
How much partisan change can you get for $41.2 million? If you were spending it on Washington legislative candidates this year, the answer: “Not much.”
State Sen. Mark Schoesler says he has experience to help state through tough times; opponent drops out
As pandemic closures continue to affect the state’s economy, Republican Sen. Mark Schoesler said he feels his seasoned experiences as a political leader give him the necessary understanding to help lead the state through a financial crisis.
Padden calls for Senate probe of Airway Heights prison slaying
The Senate should investigate the decisions that led the Department of Corrections to place a convicted child molester in the cell with the relative of one of his victims, Sen. Mike Padden said Tuesday.
State Senate’s top Republican: Special session needed to deal with coming revenue shortfall
The Legislature should meet in special session this month to begin cutting the state budget to adjust for the loss of revenue brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Senate’s top Republican said Wednesday.
State Sen. Mark Schoesler blocks Inslee’s proposed extension of emergency rules on domestic violence orders
Republican leaders balked over the weekend at extending one of the emergency orders that suspend different laws during the COVID-19, prompting a debate over who’s protecting victims of domestic violence versus who’s protecting the rule of law.
Washington legislative leaders in both parties back Inslee’s ‘stay home’ order
Legislative leaders backed Gov. Jay Inslee’s “stay home” order Monday night, urging residents to increase efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 across Washington.
Sens. Mark Schoesler and Mike Padden: Bill to alter Washington’s redistricting process isn’t needed
As the old saying goes, if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. That adage certainly applies to our state’s voter-approved redistricting process and a bill moving through the Legislature that seeks to change it.
Senate adds $1B in spending, passes budget
The Senate called for another $1 billion in spending in the state’s primary budget Thursday, approving increases for homelessness, environment and health care costs.
5 big issues the Washington Legislature will debate in 2020
Some years, the Legislature faces huge issues, spends months in partisan wrangling and needs extra weeks or even months to complete some tasks. 2020 might not be one of them.