Another veteran Washington state lawmaker won’t return in 2025

Republican state Sen. Mike Padden, whose tenure representing Washington’s Spokane Valley spans parts of four decades, announced Wednesday he will not seek re-election this year.

“After much thought and discussion with my wife, Laura, I have decided it is time to retire from office,” he said in a statement. “I appreciate the opportunity to work with all of my legislative colleagues on a variety of issues over these years to make Washington better. I will miss my relationships with each and every one of them.”

A staunch social and fiscal conservative, Padden, 77, has been an outspoken opponent of gun restrictions and abortion protections, even when voters passed measures for tougher firearm laws and greater access to reproductive services.

He’s also known for his tireless work to strengthen Washington laws concerning impaired driving, which he describes as a completely preventable crime. 

“While I have focused on many issues, public safety has been especially important to me throughout my years as a legislator,” he said in the statement.

An affable character, Padden didn’t shy away from controversial subjects or political skirmishes with Democrats.

For example, in 2016, when Republicans controlled the majority in the Senate, he led a Law and Justice Committee investigation into how a computer glitch that allowed the early release of thousands of incarcerated individuals went uncorrected for several years.

Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, said he would miss Padden’s “principled conservative leadership.”

“The impact of his dedicated public service on behalf of his constituents and people across our state will live on in the law long after his retirement,” Braun said in a statement.

Padden served a combined 28 sessions in two tours of legislative duty. He was first elected in 1980 to the 4th Legislative District seat in the state House of Representatives. He was reelected seven times and served as house majority floor leader in 1995.

That would be his last House session. He resigned in March 1995 after getting appointed as a Spokane County District Court judge, a post he would hold until retiring in 2007.

Four years later, he returned to the Legislature by winning a special election for a Senate seat. Padden won a full four-year term in 2012 and was then reelected twice.

He is the ranking Republican on the Senate Law and Justice Committee and serves on the Health and Long term Care, and Transportation committees.

Padden is the area’s second notable legislative departure. Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig, D-Spokane, said in March that it was “time to step aside” after a legislative career spanning 14 years, the past six guiding the Democratic caucus.

Padden is the latest lawmaker with 20 years or more in the Legislature who won’t be back in 2025. Others include Democratic Sens. Karen Keiser of Des Moines and Sam Hunt of Olympia, Democratic Rep. Frank Chopp of Seattle, the former House speaker, and Republican Reps. Joel Kretz of Wauconda and Bruce Chandler of Granger.

As of Wednesday, Democrat Miguel Valencia and Republican Mike Kelly had launched campaigns for the Senate seat. Padden said he is endorsing Kelly.