Nearly two dozen WA lawmakers decide not to seek re-election to their seats
Nearly two dozen Washington lawmakers have announced that they will not seek re-election.
Although the list is extensive, the Senate Democrats Communications Director told McClatchy Friday that it is not uncommon for legislators to walk away before an election season. Some are retiring from public service, others are seeking higher offices in the state or in Congress, and one is affected by the redistricting of the state based on the 2020 Census.
Here is a breakdown of those who have officially announced they will not be returning:
House of Representatives
Rep. Steve Kirby, D-Tacoma, announced in December that he is retiring from the legislature after 22 years. The legislator from the 29th district chairs the Consumer Protection and Business Committee, and sits on the Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee as well as the Commerce and Gaming Committee.
The 70-year old lawmaker was elected to the Tacoma City Council when he was 25 years old, serving four terms.
Rep. Laurie Dolan, D-Olympia, announced in February that she will not be seeking re-election. The 22nd district legislator has been a member of the House since 2016.
Dolan is the Vice Chair of the House Education Committee, and is also a member of the Appropriations Committee as well as the State Government and Tribal Relations Committee.
Rep. Jeremie Dufault, R-Selah, will not run for re-election in 2022. Elected in 2018, the legislator from the 15th district said that recent redistricting plans would require him to move to remain a member of the House.
Dufault is currently an Assistant Ranking Minority Member on both the Consumer Protection and Business Committee and the Finance Committee. He also sits on the Rules Committee.
Rep. Bob McCaslin, R-Spokane Valley, made an announcement in February that he would be leaving the legislature to run for a county auditor position. He has been a member of the House since 2014, representing the 4th district.
McCaslin is an Assistant Ranking Minority Member on the Children, Youth and Families Committee, and also sits on the Education Committee and Transportation Committee
Rep. Larry Hoff, R-Vancouver, announced on March 14 that he is retiring from the legislature and not seeking re-election. Hoff assumed office in 2019.
“I have given it my all every day, working on behalf of my constituents and developing public policy in a bipartisan manner for the benefit of all Washingtonians,” Hoff said. “It is now time for me to fully shift my focus to my family — especially my grandson who I can’t wait to spend more time with fishing, hunting, and making memories.”
The legislator from the 18th district is a Ranking Minority Member of the Labor and Workplace Standards Committee, and sits on the Appropriations Committee as well as the College and Workforce Development Committee.
Rep. Eileen Cody, D-West Seattle, announced her retirement from the legislature in March. The 34th district lawmaker has been a member of the House of Representatives since 1994. A founding member of SEIU 1199NW, she has been a nurse for over 40 years and recently retired from Kaiser Permanente.
Cody has primarily sponsored legislation related to public health and patient safety. She currently chairs the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and sits on the House Appropriations Committee.
Rep. Jesse Johnson, D-Federal Way, announced March 9 that he would not seek re-election because he wanted to spend more time with his partner and 6-month-old baby.
“Being able to fully support my family and step away from politics is the right step for us in this season of our lives,” Johnson said in a press statement. “I truly believe that it should not always be women taking a back seat in their careers and I have a talented partner in medical school soon to become a doctor. Supporting her while being more present in her and my child’s life is what is needed for our family.”
The lawmaker from the 37th district sponsored key police accountability legislation in 2021 that banned the use of chokeholds and no-knock warrants, as well as legislation that created a statewide police use of force standard that focused on de-escalation tactics and less-lethal tactics. This year he sponsored legislation to make clarifications to some of those laws passed last year.
He is also a member of the Washington House Democrats Members of Color Caucus.
Rep. Mike Sells, D-Everett, announced his retirement from the legislature in February. Sells was first elected to the House in 2004 and chairs the Labor and Workplace Standards Committee. He was also an Everett schoolteacher for more than 30 years.
“Serving as a state representative for the 38th Legislative District has been an honor,” said Sells in his press release. “Every day is a learning experience in dealing with some very serious challenges like the Great Recession and, of course, this pandemic.”
Sells sponsored legislation in 2021 that strengthened worker’s protections, and has sponsored other legislation to create aerospace training as well as creating a nursing program at Everett Community College.
Rep. Emily Wicks, D-Everett, announced Monday that she will be finishing her term but that she will not seek re-election. The legislator from the 38th district was appointed in 2020 and said in the press release that she is “pleased with the work I accomplished with other passionate legislators and staff.”
“From passing the Move Ahead Transportation Package to supporting kids and families with the Fair Start for Kids Act and making critical investments in housing throughout Washington, I helped the 38th district and Washington state get through one of the most difficult times our generation experienced,” Wicks said.
Wicks said she will focus her efforts on her company, BOSSY LLC, which she tried to start before the pandemic “threw a wrench” in her plans.
House Majority Leader Rep. Pat Sullivan from the 47th district announced his decision to leave the legislature at the end of his term this year in a press release sent out last week. The 59-year old Covington Democrat has served in the Washington Legislature since 2004, has worked on budget negotiations since 2009, and has been the House Minority Leader since 2010.
Sullivan sponsored legislation this year to create a pathway for a state student loan program.
Several lawmakers will not be seeking re-election to the House because they are seeking terms in the Senate:
- Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union;
- Rep. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick;
- Rep. Jesse Young, R-Gig Harbor;
- Rep. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle;
- Rep. Noel Frame, D-Seattle.
Rep. Brad Klippert, R-Kennewick; and Rep. Vicki Kraft, R-Vancouver, will not seek re-election in the House because they are running for Congress.
Senate
Sen. Tim Sheldon from Potlatch announced his retirement in March. The senator, who was initially elected to the House in 1990, is the longest currently-serving lawmaker in the Washington Legislature. Although the legislator from the 35th district is registered as a Democrat, he has been caucusing with Republicans for nearly a decade.
Sheldon sits on the Senate Transportation Committee as well as the Environment, Energy and Technology Committee.
Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick, announced in November that she would not seek re-election. She was first elected to the Senate in 2013.
The lawmaker from the 8th district is a current Assistant Ranking Member on the Senate Ways and Means Committee. She also sits on the Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee as well as the Environment, Energy and Technology Committee.
Sen. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, will not seek re-election. Carlyle was first elected to the House in 2008. He was elected to the Senate in 2016 and is known for his legislation to attempt to tackle climate change as well as consumer privacy.
“I will remain passionately and enthusiastically engaged at every level in the quality of life in our community,” Carlyle said in a statement in January. “It is now time for me to consider new opportunities for leadership in other public and private sector arenas.”
The lawmaker from the 36th chairs the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee and serves on the Senate Ways & Means and Rules committees.
Sen. David Frockt, D-Seattle, announced in October that he would not seek re-election. He was first elected to the Senate in 2010. Frockt currently has a couple of healthcare bills from the 2022 session awaiting signatures by Gov. Inslee.
The lawmaker from the 46th district Chairs the Behavioral Health Subcommittee to Health and Long Term Care Committee. He is Vice Chair on the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee as well as Vice Chair of the Ways and Means Committee.
Sen. Mona Das, D-Kent, announced March 23 that she would not be seeking re-election to her seat in the 47th district. Das was elected to the Senate in 2018 and said in a Facebook statement that she was proud of the work she has accomplished. She said she is excited to continue advancing progressive ideas “while empowering and inspiring more people of color into leadership through other avenues in my future.”
“However, after spending time with my family this past week and after many reflective conversations, it has become clear that my family responsibility and financial obligations make it impossible for me to seek re-election,” Das said in the statement. “I simply am not spending the time with my family that I must. I also find it hard to meet my financial obligations on my State Senator salary.”
Senators in Washington state make $56,881 a year.
Das serves as the Majority Caucus Vice Chair, and Chairs the Senate Housing and Local Government Committee. She is also a member of the Environment, Energy and Technology Committee as well as the Senate Transportation Committee.
While not up for re-election, Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro Woolley, plans to run for Secretary of State. His seat would then be filled by an appointee if he wins, according to Kimberly Wirtz, Communications Director for Senate Republicans.
This story was originally published March 22, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
