This Tacoma Democrat was elected as the state Senate’s second-in-command for the ’25 session

Since 2011, state Sen. Steve Conway has represented Tacoma in the Washington Legislature’s upper chamber. For 18 years before that, the Democrat served the 29th Legislative District as its state representative.

Now Conway can add a new title to his resume: Senate president pro tempore.

Conway was formally elected on Monday, Jan. 13, the first day of the 2025 legislative session. He’ll be tasked with presiding over the Senate body in the absence of Lt. Gov. Denny Heck, an Olympia Democrat.

In remarks delivered during the Senate’s opening ceremonies on Monday, Conway told colleagues that he’s “humbled by this honor.” He also acknowledged his predecessors, former state Sens. Karen Keiser and Rosa Franklin.

Conway said he hopes to live up to senators’ expectations, and to the job itself.

“I can only say that my role here is to work with Denny and to work with [Vice President Pro Tempore] John Lovick to ensure that we get done on 105 days, all right?” Conway said during the ceremony.

Throughout his time in Olympia, Conway has aimed to safeguard working conditions, health care and workers’ retirement benefits.

Simone Carter

The Olympian

Support my work with a digital subscription