Washington Democrats Archives | Northwest Public Broadcasting

Five Things To Know About Washington’s Upcoming 2021 Legislative Session

By Austin Jenkins January 6, 2021

Amid the ongoing pandemic and threats by far-right protesters to "occupy" the Capitol, Washington lawmakers will convene Monday for what will ultimately be a mostly remote 2021 session with a focus on the ongoing response to COVID-19, police reform, addressing climate change and writing a two-year state budget. Read More

Vaccines, State Electoral College, Hydrogen Cars Teed Up For Washington’s 2021 Legislative Session

By Tom Banse January 5, 2021

The 2021 Washington Legislature will gavel to order under the dome in Olympia, but after that be mostly virtual. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

The COVID-19 pandemic is a recurring theme as Washington state lawmakers prepare to convene their 2021 legislative session. Some legislators are raring to get started and have already drafted and filed the proposals they plan to formally introduce once the opening gavel falls on January 11. Read More

Washington House Democrats Told To Limit Their Bill Introductions In 2021 Session Due To COVID

By Austin Jenkins December 1, 2020

Because of disruptions wrought by the coronavirus pandemic, majority Democrats in the Washington House have been asked to restrain themselves and introduce no more than seven bills each during the 2021 legislative session -- and then only bills that “are urgently needed.” Read More

No ‘Blue Wave’ In Washington As Late-Arriving Ballots Favor GOP Candidates For State Legislature

By Austin Jenkins November 9, 2020

Predictions of a possible “Blue Wave” in Washington state did not materialize last week, despite President Trump’s unpopularity among the electorate. As of Monday, he had received just under 39 percent of the vote to President-elect Joe Biden’s 58 percent. Read More

Big-Time Spending Highlights Six Must-Watch Washington Legislative Races

By Austin Jenkins October 22, 2020

The Washington state capitol building in Olympia. CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3

In a year that seems all about the presidential election, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s happening down the ballot. In Washington, all nine statewide elected positions are up this year. But some of the fiercest action, and biggest spending, is happening in state legislative races. Read More

Why Washington Leaders Aren’t Rushing To Address The State’s Pandemic-Caused Budget Shortfall

By NWPB News August 30, 2020

Washington state leaders say the earliest they would hold a emergency session at this point would most likely be after the November election, if they convene at all. It’s quite possible legislators won’t meet again until January, when their regular 105-day session is scheduled to begin. Read More

Democrat Chris Armitage Drops Out Of Washington’s 5th Congressional District Race

By NWPB News July 17, 2020

Washington Fifth District congressional candidate Chris Armitage drops out of the race, citing mental health concerns and an allegation related to a personal relationship. CREDIT: Chris Armitage campaign

Chris Armitage issued a statement Friday in which he said his mental health had declined during the last few months. “That trend continued until I reached a point where I knew that I could no longer be here for myself let alone our community.” He also said he recently learned about an allegation about a relationship he thought was consensual, but which the woman involved Read More

It’s An Election Year. But That’s Not Scaring Washington Democrats From Talking Taxes

By Austin Jenkins June 11, 2020

In this 2012 file photo, then Gov. Chris Gregoire talks about the state budget. During the Great Recession, Democrats largely addressed plummeting revenues through budget cuts instead of tax hikes. The response to the COVID-19 recession may be different. CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3

Unlike during the Great Recession, when the budget was largely balanced through spending cuts, this time around majority Democrats and their allies, like labor unions, are already signaling that tax increases are almost certain to be part of any solution. Read More

Might There Be A Special Session Of The Washington Legislature? Don’t Bet On It, Or Against It

By Austin Jenkins May 20, 2020

The Washington Capitol building in Olympia with flowers in front

As Washington Gov. Jay Inslee exerts his emergency powers to battle COVID-19, behind the scenes legislative leaders are exploring the idea of a special session of the Legislature, perhaps as early as next month. Continue Read More

Felon Voting Rights Bill Dies On Washington Senate Floor In The Middle Of Debate

By Austin Jenkins February 19, 2020

File photo - Washington prison - Courtesy of Washington Department of Corrections

Legislation to automatically restore the voting rights of convicted felons when they are released from prison has died unexpectedly in the Washington Senate. Majority Democrats abruptly ended debate on the controversial bill Wednesday evening when they realized they lacked the 25 votes needed to pass the measure. Read More

Iowa Caucus Chaos Has Washington Democrats Feeling ‘Brilliant’ For Switching To Primary System

By NWPB News February 8, 2020

A man speaks in support of a candidate during Washington state's Democratic caucus in 2016 in Seattle. In 2019, the state Democratic party did away with the caucus system and going forward will use only primary elections to select which nominee to support for president. CREDIT: Elaine Thompson/AP

In 2020, Washington Democrats won't use neighborhood caucus meetings to help choose a presidential nominee. And they're glad they made the change. Continue Reading Iowa Caucus Chaos Has Washington Democrats Feeling Read More

Washington Lawmakers Are Done This Year. Here’s What They Passed — And Didn’t — In 2019

By Austin Jenkins April 29, 2019

A first-in-the-nation law to allow human composting was among the bills that passed the 2019 Washington Legislature. CREDIT: MOLT STUDIOS

Washington lawmakers just wrapped up an action-packed, 105-day session with passage of the first state budget to exceed $50 billion and a bundle of tax hikes to fund it. Continue Reading Washington Lawmakers Are Done This Year. Read More

Washington Lawmakers Pass $52.8 Billion Budget, Raise Taxes, Approve Affirmative Action, Adjourn

By Austin Jenkins April 29, 2019

Pedestrians walk in the rain near the Legislative Building, Tuesday, March 28, 2017, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash., as cherry trees display their spring blossoms. CREDIT: TED S. WARREN/AP

Washington lawmakers adjourned at midnight Sunday after majority Democrats approved an initiative to restore affirmative action and passed a $52.4 billion, two-year state operating budget. The budget relies on an array of tax increases, including on businesses and real estate transactions, but doesn't impose a new capital gains tax as had been proposed. Read More

Washington Senate Democrats Propose New Taxes On Capital Gains, Support For Wildfire Funding

By Austin Jenkins March 29, 2019

Washington State Sen. Manka Dhingra speaks to reporters during a briefing on the Senate Democratic budget on Friday. AUSTIN JENKINS / N3

Washington Senate Democrats on Friday proposed a capital gains tax that would fund a suite of tax reductions for low-income families, small businesses and senior citizen homeowners. The tax proposal was rolled out in conjunction with the Senate Democrats' unveiling of a $52 billion two-year state spending plan, which followed a House Democratic budget presentation earlier Read More

Washington House Democrats Propose $1.4 Billion Tax Package To Fund State Budget

By Austin Jenkins March 25, 2019

Washington House Democrats unveiled their proposed two-year budget at a news conference on Monday. CREDIT: AUSTIN JENKINS

Washington House Democrats on Monday unveiled a proposed $1.4 billion tax package, including a new capital gains tax, to fund a two-year budget with ongoing commitments to public schools, boosted spending for people with mental illness and increased reimbursement rates for a wide-range of social service providers. Read More

Electoral College Debate Heads To Washington State Supreme Court Over ‘Hamilton Elector’ Challenge

By Paige Browning January 21, 2019

Washington state presidential elector Levi Guerra, center, joined by fellow elector P. Bret Chiafalo , right, announced in 2016 that they'd ask fellow members of the Electoral College to pick a Republican "consensus candidate" rather than Donald Trump. CREDIT: STEVE BLOOM/THE OLYMPIAN via AP

Three Washington Democrats are arguing to the state Supreme Court why they voted against their party's presidential nominee in the 2016 election. The state fined them $1,000 for not following party rules in voting for Hillary Clinton in the Electoral College. Read More

Democrat Takes Early Lead In Race For Control Of Washington State Senate

By Austin Jenkins November 8, 2017

Republican Jinyoung Lee Englund, left, and Democrat Manka Dhingra, right, are vying for the 45th legislative district Senate seat. Dhingra leads in early results. CAMPAIGN PHOTOS Listen Democrats had the early advantage in the race for control of the Washington state Senate as Democrat Manka Dhingra led Republican Jinyoung Englund by 10 points in a… Read More

Democrats Declare Victory In Washington 45th District Race, Capture One-Party Control Of Olympia

By Austin Jenkins November 8, 2017

Olympia State Capitol Building TED S. WARREN / ASSOCIATED PRESS Listen Democrats are declaring victory in a special Washington state Senate race that will give them one-party rule in Olympia. A new vote tally Wednesday showed Democrat Manka Dhingra maintaining her lead in the 45th district race in the Seattle suburbs. Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins says… Read More

Inslee’s Trump Blasts Are A Warm-Up For 2018

By Austin Jenkins July 10, 2017

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee will be chair of the Democratic Governors Association in 2018 when 36 gubernatorial contests will be waged. He is shown appearing on Meet the Press on February 24, 2017. MEET THE PRESS / MSNBC Listen Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has emerged as a fierce critic of President Donald Trump. The Democrat… Read More