Warnick to lead Republicans in Senate

Members of the Washington state Senate Republican Caucus on Thursday elected Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, as their caucus chair and Sen. Ron Muzzall, R-Oak Harbor, as caucus vice chair.

Warnick, representing the 13th District, has served as caucus vice chair since 2017, according to the Senate Republican Caucus. As leader of the group, Warnick will preside over internal meetings and help develop caucus strategy during the 2022 legislative session.

“It’s an honor to be chosen by my Republican colleagues as their caucus chair,” Warnick said in a release from the caucus. “My years as caucus vice chair have given me the experience to serve in this new position. I look forward to continuing to work with the rest of Senate Republican leadership on ways to help us reach our goals next session and beyond for the people of Washington state.”

As vice chair, Muzzall, who represents the 10th District, will help preside at internal meetings of the caucus and coordinate committee activities as liaison between leadership and committee chairs. Muzzall served the past two years as a deputy whip, ensuring party discipline, for the Senate Republicans.

“I’ve enjoyed being part of our caucus leadership team the past two years and I’m honored to be selected to this new position,’’ Muzzall said in a release. “There will be many important issues for the Legislature to address next session, so it will be important to work hard toward promoting a transparent and responsive state government and doing what we can to stop bad policies that make our communities less safe and less prosperous.”

Senate Republicans also elected Sen. Perry Dozier, R-Waitsburg, of the 16th District, as deputy whip, replacing Muzzall.

The 2022 legislative session begins Jan. 10 and is scheduled to last 60 days.