Preview of Candidates for Fall Election in Washington

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This fall all of the seats in the Washington House of Representatives will be up for election along with twenty-four seats in the Washington Senate.

House
Though all seats will be up for election in the Washington House, several current serving representatives have announced their decision to either retire or run for a different office.

Both representatives for District 1 (parts of Snohomish and King Counties) have announced they will not seek re-election. Rep. O’Brien is retiring and Rep. Ericks (Vice Chair for Ways & Means) is setting his sights on a position with U.S. Marshall’s Office.

Several other representatives are also seeking positions elsewhere in public service.

  • Rep. Herrera (R-18 Kalama, Evergreen State College) – Third Congressional District
  • Rep. Williams (D-22 Thurston County, Evergreen State College) – WA Supreme Court
  • Rep. Priest (R-30 Federal Way) – Federal Way Mayor
  • Rep. Roach (R-31 Bonney Lake) – Pierce County Council
  • Rep. Nelson (D-34 West Seattle) – Vacated Senate Seat currently held by Sen. McDermott
  • Rep. Ericksen (R- 42 Ferndale) – Vacated Senate Seat currently held by Sen. Brandland

Finally, several more representatives have chosen to end, which for many is a multi-decade career in the Washington Legislature, to pursue other interests.  These include Representatives:

  • Rep. Wood (D-3 Spokane),
  • Rep. Wallace (D-12 Vancouver, Chair of House Higher Education),
  • Rep. Kessler (D-24 Parts of Clallam, Jefferson and Grays Harbort Counties, Majority Leader),
  • Rep. Flannigan (D-27 Tacoma/Fife), and
  • Rep. Quall (D-40 Parts of San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties, Chair of House Education).

Senate
This fall  twenty-four seats will be open for election in the Washington Senate.  The seats in which the term will expire in January 2011 are currently held by the following elected officials:

  • Sen. Marr (D-6 Spokane)
  • Sen. Morton (R-7 Kettle Falls)
  • Sen. Delvin (D-8 Richland)
  • Sen. Holmquist (R-13 Moses Lake)
  • Sen. Honeyford (R-15 Sunnyside)
  • Sen. Shin (D-21 Edmonds, Senate Higher Education & Workforce Dev. Cmte)
  • Sen. Kilmer (D-26 Gig Harbor, Chair – Senate Higher Education & Workforce Dev. Cmte)
  • Sen. Franklin (D-29 South Tacoma)
  • Sen. Eide (D-30 Federal Way)
  • Sen. Roach (R-31 Auburn)
  • Sen. Fairley (D-32 Parts of King and Snohomish Counties)
  • Sen. Keiser (D-33 Kent)
  • Sen. McDermott (D-34 West Seattle)
  • Sen. Sheldon (D-35 Potlatch)
  • Sen. Kohl-Welles (D-36 Seattle)
  • Sen. Kline (D-37 Seattle)
  • Sen. Berkey (D-38 Everett)
  • Sen. Brandland (R-42 Bellingham)
  • Sen. Murray (D-43 Seattle)
  • Sen. Hobbs (D-44 Lake Stevens)
  • Sen. Oemig (D-45 Kirkland)
  • Sen. Jacobsen (D-46 Seattle, Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Cmte)
  • Sen. Kauffman (D-47 Kent)
  • Sen. Tom (D-48 Bellevue, Vice Chair of Senate Ways & Means)

Four of the Senate seats will be open races with no incumbent. Senators Fairley, Franklin, and Brandland have announced their retirment, while Sen. McDermott is seeking a seat on the King County Council in November.