Washington Senate Democratic Campaign

Our response to the misleading Seattle Times article this week:

“The Senate Democratic Caucus enjoys deep working relationships with our Republican colleagues and strives to gain broad support for its policy and budget work. In recent years, more than 90% of bills passed by the Washington State Senate were bipartisan, including our top priority last session of increasing public school funding for students with disabilities. Another major caucus priority, the transportation funding package, gained the support of the ranking member and many of his Republican colleagues. We are always open to collaboration on solving the challenges our state faces.

There are also areas where we will never compromise our values and betray the will of the voters. Time and time again, a clear majority of Washingtonians have spoken up to say that they want their leaders to fight back against Donald Trump, protect access to abortion, fight against climate change, support workers, prevent gun violence, defend critical services on which families rely, and create a more equitable tax code. You will never find members of the Senate Democratic Caucus joining with Republicans to overturn these priorities of Washington voters.

Chad Magendanz and Michelle Caldier, who lost their primary elections in August, appear desperate as they seek to mislead voters heading into the final stretch of the campaign. Neither of them serves in the State Senate, and it’s not clear to me that either of them speaks regularly to any members of our caucus. We are confident in our members Senator Victoria Hunt and Senator Deb Krishnadasan as they make their case to their voters over these final days about how they are best suited to deliver results that make people's lives better.”

-Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen

🎉 Sharing with our network! 🎉 You're invited to join Washington State Senators Manka Dhingra, T’wina Nobles, June Robinson, Sharon Shewmake, and Lisa Wellman for a Women in Leadership networking and fundraising event on Tuesday, July 1, from 5:30–7:30 PM in Seattle.

This event is a unique opportunity to build relationships with fellow changemakers, engage with those shaping our state’s future, and support electing Senate Democrats.

Women in Leadership Event
with Senators Dhingra, Nobles, Robinson, Shewmake, and Wellman
Hosted by: Karen Kalish, Melissa Johnsen, Jessica Forsythe
Date: Tuesday, July 1
Time: 5:30-7:30 pm
Location: Belltown, Seattle
Full address provided upon RSVP
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/womeninleadership2025

It is with profound sadness that we honor the passing of our esteemed friend and colleague, Senator Bill Ramos.
Bill made a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. His unwavering dedication to public service, passionate advocacy, and generous spirit set him apart. Known for his warm smile, compassionate heart, and genuine kindness, Bill touched countless lives and leaves behind a legacy of service and humanity that will not be forgotten.
Prior to serving in the legislature, Bill, alongside his wife, Councilwoman Sarah Perry, were volunteer organizers on the Eastside – working tirelessly to make change in their community. Their leadership and commitment played a vital role in shaping the region’s political landscape, and the campaign community owes them an immense debt of gratitude.
Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his beloved wife, Sarah, their two children, and Bill’s countless friends in the legislature and across Washington during this difficult time.

BREAKING: Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig of Spokane announced today he will not seek re-election in 2024. Over the last 6 years, he's led Senate Democrats on a path of unprecedented progress on voting rights, climate action, gun safety, reproductive rights, education & housing.

Here is Billig’s full statement:

Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig will not seek re-election

OLYMPIA – Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig (D-Spokane) announced today that he will not seek re-election in 2024.
Billig, who was first elected to the Legislature in 2010, will finish his current term and continue to serve as majority leader until a new leader is selected in November. He was elected majority leader in late 2018 and has served in that role since the 2019 legislative session.
“Part of being a good leader is knowing when it is time to step aside and let others lead,” said Billig. “I have been incredibly lucky to have served Spokane in the Legislature and fortunate to have the strong support of my family and so many friends and neighbors throughout our community.”
During his 14 years in the Legislature, Billig earned a reputation as a serious policy maker and consensus builder. He quickly became a leading voice on education funding and fought hard to expand access to high quality early learning.
When Democrats regained control of the Senate in 2018, he led the charge on a package of bills to expand access to the ballot and strengthen campaign finance laws. That year Washington adopted same-day voter registration, automatic voter registration, and youth pre-registration. Billig’s DISCLOSE Act increased transparency laws to shine light on the source of money in elections.
Under his leadership, the Senate passed nation-leading legislation addressing climate change, gun safety, voting rights, affordable housing, reproductive rights and tax reform. He served as one of the “McCleary 8,” the group of legislators who spent 18 months negotiating a new K-12 funding plan in the wake of the state Supreme Court’s McCleary decision.
Billig championed legislation on sustainable aviation fuels, serving as the chair of the Washington State Alternative Aviation Fuels Workgroup. He sponsored and passed Senate Bill 5447 in 2023 to position Washington as a leader in this fast-developing sector of the green economy.
He led early efforts to make remote video testimony available to people across Washington, and helped guide the Legislature through successful virtual sessions during the COVID pandemic. As the Democratic majority expanded under Billig’s leadership, so did the diversity of its members with a record number of lawmakers of color and in the Senate’s leadership team.
The state’s economy prospered under Billig’s leadership and Washington was twice named the top state in the nation in U.S. News’ Best States ranking. A member of the Senate’s budget writing team, he helped craft balanced state budgets with strong reserves that helped Washington earn historically high credit ratings.
Throughout all of his legislative work, Billig was most focused on Spokane. During his first session in 2011, he sponsored and passed landmark legislation to protect the Spokane River by removing unnecessary phosphorous from lawn fertilizers that caused toxic algae blooms in waterways across the state.
He also secured many Spokane capital and transportation projects, most notably the University District Gateway bike and pedestrian bridge, the Division Street Bus Rapid Transit Line, and the expansion of the Carl Maxey Center. Billig was also instrumental in passing legislation and securing funding to open the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.
He took steps to modernize the Legislature, adding new transparency measures and a code of conduct for lawmakers, legislative staff and lobbyists.
Billig prioritized working across the aisle during his tenure as majority leader. In each of his six years at the helm, more than 90 percent of all bills that passed the Legislature did so with bipartisan support.
Outside the Legislature, Billig is an award-winning business executive. He is the CEO of Brett Sports, a company that owns and operates four minor league sports teams. He has spent 32 years with Brett Sports, rising through the ranks as general manager, president and now as part-owner and CEO.
“I’m so fortunate to have had two rewarding careers so far that help to support the Spokane community,” Billig said. “I will continue with Brett Sports and look forward to new opportunities as they arise.”
Billig’s six-year term as majority leader is the third longest in the last 50 years, surpassed by only Jeanette Hayner (7 years; 1981-1982, 1988-1992) and his former seatmate and current Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown (8 years; 2005-2012).
Senate Democrats will elect a new majority leader for the 2025 legislative session following the 2024 general election in November.

School bonds need 60 percent of the vote to pass. Many school districts across the state got so close, missing the threshold by a couple hundred votes. We can change this in the legislature - but like these bonds, we need 60 percent of the vote, too.

Just one more Democrat in our State Senate gets us there. And that's why we're looking at three major pickup opportunities this year.

After levies pass, but bonds fail, districts like Spokane consider next steps Editors note: The headline appearing with this story in Thursday's print edition contained an error. The headline should have stated "Spokane schools bond fails. What’s next?"

Senator Sam Hunt's bill to protect libraries has passed out of the Senate! 🥳📚

“We’re just trying to give all the people a voice and not let minority rule. Closing libraries is a stupid idea.” - Senator Sam Hunt.

Opinion: Library bill is a vote for democracy, sanity We live in strange, and sometimes discouraging, times.

🎉 BIG news: We have a candidate running for the 10th LD! 🎉

The 10th is the only district in Washington state with two democratic House members and a Republican Senator. It's the best opportunity in the state to pick up a seat in the State Senate and we're all in. 🥳

Janet is incredible. 🤩 She's an Island County Commissioner, former social worker, and foster parent. She's running to lower costs for working families and protect our natural resources. And, unlike her opponent, she unreservedly supports abortion rights.

Check out her website and get involved here!

⏩ https://janetforsenate.org/ ⏪

Happy 2024! 🎉 State Senate campaigns are starting to hire. 📢

We're staffing up for our 2024 State Senate races and need Campaign Managers to help protect and expand our Democratic majority. We'll have races all across the state. If you're interested, or know someone who would be, you can see the details here: ⤵️

⏩ https://bit.ly/wacampaignmanagers ⏪