Democrats
A third Democrat joins contest for western Washington congressional seat
Jefferson County Commissioner Kate Dean kicked off a bid for Congress on Tuesday, becoming the third Democrat in the hunt to replace U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer when he retires next year. Dean, who is in her second term on the three-person commission, is a 25-year county resident and has co-founded three businesses – Old Tarboo […]
Washington lawmakers begin to drop bills ahead of upcoming session
Providing striking workers with unemployment checks. Protecting unspent gift card balances for consumers. Keeping the old name for a new state building. These are among the matters Washington lawmakers are teeing up for debate in the 2024 session. Legislators on Monday could begin pre-filing bills for introduction on the session’s first day, Jan. 8. To […]
Franz says opportunity, not opportunism, driving her bid for WA seat in Congress
Hilary Franz issued an urgent proclamation in spring when she launched her bid for Washington governor. “Anything shy of epic won’t cut it,” she said in May. “There’s no shortage of challenges, but I know we can tackle them together. Six months later, Franz, Washington’s two-term Democratic Commissioner of Public Lands, is pursuing a new […]
Petitions filed for initiative to erase Washington’s ambitious climate law
Washington’s controversial carbon pricing scheme drew fire and praise Tuesday as critics turned in signatures for an initiative to repeal the program, while its architects, including the governor, vowed to fight the measure should it reach the ballot. Shortly before 1 p.m., opponents, led by a hedge fund manager and the leader of the state […]
Democrat Emily Randall enters race for Washington congressional seat
Democratic state Sen. Emily Randall on Thursday kicked off a campaign to succeed U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer next year, touting her lifelong ties with communities throughout the western Washington congressional district. Randall, who grew up in Port Orchard and lives in Bremerton, said she’ll work to expand higher education access, lower health care costs, and […]
Franz halts bid for WA governor, sets sights on Congress
Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz on Friday ended her bid for governor and launched a new campaign for Congress. Franz, a Democrat, said she is running to succeed Democratic Rep. Derek Kilmer in the 6th Congressional District which encompasses the Olympic Peninsula, the Kitsap Peninsula and much of Tacoma. Kilmer, who announced Thursday he […]
Here’s how collective bargaining for Washington legislative staffers could go
Employees of the state Legislature will be able to unionize next May but not every one of them should be allowed to do so. That’s according to recommendations in a new report from the leader of the Office of State Legislative Labor Relations. Only partisan staff in the House and Senate should be permitted to […]
WA lawmaker plans hiatus from think tank job to comply with ethics rules
A Yakima state lawmaker appeared Friday to satisfy concerns of an ethics panel so he can continue working for the Washington Policy Center without violating any conflict-of-interest laws. Republican Rep. Chris Corry became director of the conservative think tank’s Center for Government Reform in May. When he got the job offer, Corry asked the Legislative […]
Long-snubbed by Washington lawmakers, sunshine panel not ready to surrender
Those advising state lawmakers on ways to ensure Washington’s government operates transparently have grown pretty frustrated with the lack of interest in their advice. It reached the point earlier this year when the Public Records Exemptions Accountability Committee considered asking lawmakers to disband the advisory panel, concerned it had become, in one member’s words, a […]
Campaign cash pouring into southwest WA congressional race
U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat whose unexpected win in 2022 flipped a Republican-held seat in southwest Washington, has amassed $2.1 million for a re-election bid next year, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission. Gluesenkamp Perez hauled in $600,000 in the three-month period ending Sept. 30, outpacing Joe Kent and Leslie Lewallen, […]
Conservative Latino leaders wary of how disputed legislative district lines will be redrawn
Latino civic leaders on Thursday warned the redrawing of a Yakima Valley legislative district could do more harm than good for communities they represent in south-central Washington. They said they worry that when a federal judge finishes redoing the disputed map for the 15th Legislative District, it will cost Sen. Nikki Torres of Pasco, Washington’s […]
New state budget forecast offers $1B worth of good news for Washington leaders
Lawmakers will have nearly $1 billion more to spend in the current budget, according to the latest analysis from the state’s chief economist. A new forecast released Tuesday projects state revenues will reach $66.7 billion for the two-year budget cycle that began July 1, an increase of $663 million from what chief economist Steve Lerch […]