After 34 years, longest-serving active Democrat in WA Legislature will retire

State Sen. Steve Conway, the longest-serving active Democrat in the Washington Legislature, announced his retirement Wednesday.

During a speech on the Senate floor the afternoon of Jan. 21, the South Tacoma senator revealed that he won’t be seeking reelection following 34 years of service in Olympia.

Conway told fellow lawmakers that the time has come for him to start a new chapter.

“I will not forget the Washington state Legislature,” he said. “In fact, my heart will be down here with you and solving these problems, because that is what we do for the people of Washington.”

Following his floor announcement, Conway’s colleagues stood to applaud.

Since 1993, Conway has represented the 29th Legislative District, which includes South Tacoma, Parkland and East Lakewood; he started out in the lower chamber before moving to the Senate in 2011. Today he holds a leadership role as the upper chamber’s president pro tempore.

Conway is also vice chair of two committees — the Senate rules and labor and commerce committees. He’s also a Ways & Means Committee member.

A Jan. 21 news release notes that the senator has consistently acted as a member of labor committees since he was first elected more than three decades ago, including as committee chair.

Conway holds a master’s and doctoral degree in history from the University of Oregon and later served at the London School of Economics as a Fulbright Fellow, obtaining his PhD. He also once worked for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 81 as a labor relations specialist, striving for living wages, equitable benefits and safe workplaces, per the release.

In the Legislature, Conway harnessed that experience to help develop the state’s unemployment insurance program, collective bargaining laws, workers compensation system, Paid Family and Medical Leave program and more. He also pushed for the creation of the Joint Committee on Veterans’ & Military Affairs and has been “intimately involved in the state’s pension policy,” the release states.

This session, Conway has introduced a proposal that would carve out another method for unincorporated areas in Pierce County, such as South Hill, to become their own cities, McClatchy previously reported. He also filed a bill aimed at preventing food deserts that would require grocery stores to provide at least six months’ written notice to local officials, the attorney general and customers before closing.

The news release credits Conway with having secured funding for myriad local projects, with his work helping to build the Asia Pacific Cultural Center, LeMay Car Museum and University of Washington Bridges Center. He also helped land money for his legislative district when it comes to transportation infrastructure improvements, public works upgrades, public parks and historical preservation.

In a letter to constituents, Conway spelled out his decision to not seek reelection later this year, noting that he plans to spend more time with family. He’s been married to his wife, Georgia, who once worked for the Tacoma Public Library system as a children’s specialist, since 1968, and together they have two sons and four grandchildren.

Conway emphasized that the decision to retire from Olympia wasn’t an easy one.

“I love my job,” he said in the letter. “Throughout my service, I have made many friends and been presented with the opportunity of a lifetime: to use my skills in public service and decision-making to do everything in my power to make your life a little better.”

Conway’s term ends next January. Later this year, the primary election for his seat is scheduled for Aug. 4 and the generation election will be held Nov. 3.

This story was originally published January 21, 2026 at 3:48 PM.

Simone Carter

The Olympian

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