Washington State GOP Articles

Bellevue—Rep. Skyler Rude, a Republican from Walla Walla, will not seek reelection and instead has accepted a position with the Washington Secretary of State’s Office. “Skyler Rude is a good man and has been an effective state legislator for the 16th District. I wish him well in his new position,” says Washington State Republican Party Chairman Rep. Jim Walsh. “The current Secretary of State can certainly use Rude's discernment.” “To the people of the 16th:[...]

Bellevue—In a shocking rejection of the democratic process, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled 6–3 against Initiative 2066, holding that the measure protecting use of natural gas violates the state Constitution’s single-subject requirement. The decision overturns I-2066, a measure approved in 2024 by a clear majority of Washington voters. Washington State Republican Party Chairman Rep. Jim Walsh questions both the ruling and the timing of its release. “My sources in and around the Washington State[...]

Bellevue—During the recent State Committee meeting in Bothell, Washington, the Washington State Republican Party (WAGOP) endorsed a promising slate of ten congressional candidates, including three candidates who placed first in their primary elections on August 4th. First-place-primary finishers include Washington State Senate Minority Leader John Braun (WA-03), Yakima County Commissioner Amanda McKinney (WA-04), and incumbent Congressman Michael Baumgartner (WA-05). Braun received nearly 40% of the vote in his crowded primary field, finishing well ahead of Democratic incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Baumgartner[...]

Bellevue—The Spokane County Republican Party and the Washington State Republican Party (WAGOP) have both endorsed Michael Cathcart for Spokane County Auditor. The Spokane GOP endorsed Cathcart at its County Convention on August 22; the WAGOP has endorsed Cathcart a week earlier. A member of the Spokane City Council, Cathcart is running against Democrat Callie Gee in the General Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. “As your Auditor, I will be an independent watchdog, focused on[...]

Bellevue—"Our main point of interest in this primary election is voter turnout,” says WAGOP Chairman Rep. Jim Walsh. “It’s been on a downward trend for the last few cycles. While voter turnout is still low, there were some promising signs that the decline is stabilizing, and November may see stronger voter participation. The voter turnout number here in Washington tells me that the people don't trust establishment WA Democrats' mismanagement of budgets, tax policy, public[...]

Bellevue—Today’s court filing by the Washington State Republican Party (WAGOP) is a strong rebuke of WA Attorney General Nick Brown’s lies. “In the interest of all Washingtonians, we can’t allow these intentionally misleading ballot statements to continue,” says WAGOP Chairman Rep. Jim Walsh. “Washington State Republican Party opposes the graduated income tax that would be imposed by Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 6346, and therefore supports enactment of IP26-645. Washington State Republican Party also supports[...]

Bellevue—The Washington State Republican Party (WAGOP) has completed its official recommendations of candidates for the State Supreme Court in advance of the August 4th primary by recommending Scott Edwards for Position 1 on the Court. In a special meeting of the WAGOP State Committee held in early July, county chairs and state committee members from around Washington followed the Party’s longstanding practice and met a two-thirds supermajority threshold in voting to recommend Edwards. Edwards is[...]

Bellevue—On June 24, ahead of the 2026 Primary Election set for August 4, 2026, during a special meeting called for the purpose of considering recommendations and endorsements, the State Committee of the Washington State Republican Party (WAGOP) made additional official early recommendations for two candidates seeking open seats on the Washington State Supreme Court. They are Laura Christensen Colberg (Position 1) and Todd Bloom (Position 7). WAGOP Chairman Jim Walsh says: "The State Committee of[...]