The Seattle Metro Chamber’s state legislative team Boswell Consulting compiled this report on key issues and upcoming elections.

Key Elections to Watch

Update: Regional 2023 Elections

The primary election was held Aug. 1 with the general elections coming up on Nov. 7. For more information on our local advocacy priorities, click here.

Look Ahead: Key Statewide 2024 Elections

There are no state legislative or statewide elected races on the 2023 ballot. However, 2024 will be a big election year with many open statewide races. The entire state House of Representatives and half of the state Senate will be up for election.

Washington state is a top-two primary state: the top two candidates from each race advance to the General Election regardless of political party.

High-Profile 2024 Races

  • Governor: State Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D), Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz (D), Sen. Mark Mullet (D), and Former Congressional Rep. Dave Reichert (R). Articles: Washington State Standard and KUOW
  • Attorney General: Sen. Manka Dhingra (D) is challenged by former U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Article: Axios
  • Public Lands Commissioner: Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D), King County Council Member Dave Upthegrove (D), Shoreline City Councilmember Keith Scully (D), and former Sen. Mona Das (D). Article: The Columbian

Update: Shifting Political Landscape

Ways & Means Chair Sen. Rolfes resigned from the Senate and moved to Kitsap County as the new county commissioner.

Rep. Jim Walsh was elected to lead the state’s Republican party ahead of the 2024 elections.

Issues We’re Tracking

Public Safety

Back in May, legislators were called back to Olympia for a special session to come up with a solution to the Blake Decision.

Last month, the state launched the Blake Refund Bureau to assist with reimbursements of court fines.

Housing

This year was a successful year for housing advocates in the state legislature with many reforms passing to create more middle housing and change land use laws. Housing continues to be a focus for the legislature. On July 26, the Senate Housing Committee held a work session focused on expanding housing accessibility and stability.

Budget and Taxes

Click here to review the Aug. 14 State Economic & Revenue Forecast Monthly Update Report. According to the report, major General Fund-State revenue collections for the July 11-Aug. 10 collection period totaled $81.2 million, which is 3.6% higher than forecasted in June. The report also noted Washington’s unemployment rate is at an all-time low.

The Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences held a work session on Aug. 2 where it presented a preliminary report on 2023 tax preferences.

Environment and Energy

The state’s third carbon allowance of cap-and-invest carbon auction is scheduled for Aug. 30 and the summary will be released on Sept. 6. So far, the past two actions have raised more funds than originally anticipated. Click here for more information.

As a result of SB 5447, a bill that passed the legislature in 2023, incentivizing the manufacturing of sustainable aviation fuels, a new project broke ground this summer in Moses Lake. The Silicon Valley Startup called Twelve intends to produce sustainable aviation fuels.

Transportation

Washington state continues to have the highest gas prices in the nation. On July 20, Gov. Jay Inslee, Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, and Sen. Joe Ngyuen held a press conference in Burien to discuss high gas prices. They suggested the high gas prices are caused by the oil industry and discussed proposed legislation to create more price transparency and accountability.

New Programs: Business and Labor

On July 1, Washington employers were required to start deducting premiums from their employees’ paychecks for the state’s new long-term care insurance program, WA Cares. A group of Republican Senators are working on a proposal for next legislative session to make this program voluntary instead of mandatory. This would likely result in a repeal of the program.

The Washington State Department of Commerce has launched the Equitable Access to Credit Program (RCW 43.390.020), which gives businesses and individuals with state business and occupation tax (B&O) liabilities an opportunity to contribute and receive tax credits. Donations to the program are then used to award grants to qualified lending institutions to provide businesses in historically underserved communities with access to credit.

What’s Up Next

2023 Elections: Nov. 7 (General)

Senate Assembly Days: Nov. 30 and Dec. 1

House Assembly Days: Dec. 4 and 5

Start of the 2024 Legislative Session: Jan. 8

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