A wave of retirements is reshaping the Washington State Legislature ahead of the 2026 election cycle. More than a dozen longtime lawmakers in both the House and Senate have announced they will not seek reelection, representing a combined 144 years of legislative service. Notably, the Senate will lose both the chair and vice chair of the labor committee — a significant transition for policy areas that directly affect workers, unions, and collective bargaining in Washington. Also stepping away from the Senate is a major champion for higher education, as well as two members with close connections to Public School Employees.
State Senate
Sen. Steve Conway (D-29) has served the 29th Legislative District of Tacoma since 1993, first as a State Representative for 18 years, and then as a Senator since 2011. Prior to his election to the legislature, Sen. Conway was a business agent for the United Food and Commercial Worker’s Union (UFCW), Local 81. During that time, he worked to secure living wages, safe workplaces and equitable benefits for countless working people and their families. Sen. Conway brought that pro-labor foundation to Olympia and consistently stood up for working families and unions throughout his service in Olympia. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee.
He was Public School Employees Legislator of the Year in 2010.
Sen. Steve Conway (D-Tacoma)
Moses Lake Republican Sen. Judy Warnick announced on March 11 she will not seek re-election to the Washington State Senate at the conclusion of her current term. A steadfast advocate for rural Washington and a respected leader in the Legislature, Warnick will continue to serve the 13th Legislative District until her term officially concludes in January 2027.
She has served in the Legislature since 2007, first in the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2014, then in the Senate since 2015. Warnick’s legislative career has been defined by her commitment to the agricultural community and the economic vitality of rural districts.
She was highly respected by her Republican peers who elected her as vice chair of the Senate Republican Caucus in 2017, and as chair of the Caucus in 2021.
Sen. Judy Warnick (R-Moses Lake)
Sen. Rebecca Saldaña represents Washington state’s 37th Legislative District, which includes parts of South Seattle and Renton. She announced she will not be running for re-election, but instead running for a seat on the King County Council.
Prior to her appointment to the Senate in 2016, Saldaña worked for SEIU Local 6. Saldaña is currently chair of the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee. She has used this role to stand up for workers throughout Washington state, strengthen economic fairness, and create opportunity for working families.
Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle)
Sen. Sharon Shewmake was sworn into office in the Senate on Dec. 9, 2022 and was the first Democrat to represent the 42nd District (Whatcom County) in the Senate in two decades. She currently serves as Chair of the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee. She previously served two terms in the House of Representatives from 2019-2022.
Shewmake announced on Dec. 1, 2025 that she would not seek re-election in 2026.
Shewmake is a professor of environmental economics, urban economics and energy policy at Western Washington University in Bellingham, as well as a children’s book author. During her service in the Legislature, Sen. Shewmake focused on helping families with affordability of housing and energy, creating jobs and building infrastructure, higher education, and ensuring everyone can live in safe communities.
Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham)
Sen. Matt Boehnke (R-Kennewick) was first elected to the House in 2018, where he served two terms before being elected to the Senate in 2022. Most recently Sen. Boehnke served as the ranking Republican on the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee and as a member of the Higher Education and Workforce Development, Ways and Means, and Rules committees.
During his time serving in Olympia, Boehnke has been a leading voice in strengthening Washington's technology and innovation economy. An Army veteran, Boehnke is also Associate Professor of Computer Science and Cybersecurity at Columbia Basin College. He has decided to leave the state Senate in order to run for Congress representing Central Washington, potentially replacing retiring Congressman Dan Newhouse.
Sen. Boehnke is the son of former PSE State Secretary Bonnie Boehnke.
Sen. Matt Boehnke (R-Kennewick)
House of Representatives
Rep. Suzanne Schmidt (District 4) was elected to the House in 2022. Rep. Schmidt is running instead for Spokane County Commissioner.
Rep. Schmidt currently serves as the ranking Republican on the House Labor Workplace Standards Committee. She has been a reasonable lawmaker to work with on labor issues and regularly reaches out to labor unions to ensure clear communication on priorities and concerns.
Her children, and now grandchildren, have attended schools in the Central Valley School District.
Rep. Suzanne Schmidt (R-Spokane)
Rep. Jenny Graham has served in the House of Representatives since 2001, representing the 6th District. She is completing her third term in the House, serving as the ranking Republican on the House Community Safety Committee.
She announced in mid-February that she would not seek re-election to a fourth term.
Rep. Jenny Graham (R-Spokane)
Rep. Mike Volz is completing his fifth term representing the Spokane’s 6th Legislative District, which includes part of Spokane County, Airway Heights, Medical Lake and Cheney.
Mike Volz first joined the Spokane County Treasurer’s Office in 1999. After having served as Chief Deputy Treasurer for 14 years, he was appointed to Treasurer in February 2025 replacing Mike Baumgartner, who was elected to Congress. He is choosing to leave the Legislature in order to focus solely on his responsibilities as county treasurer.
Rep. Volz is the son of former PSE Field Representative Gene Volz.
Rep. Mike Volz (R-Spokane)
Rep. Sharon Wylie (D-Vancouver) was appointed to the House of Representatives in 2011, serving 16 years and 8 terms representing the 49th District. She leaves office as one of the most senior members of the House.
During her time in the Legislature, she has specialized in transportation, energy, and economic development issues.
Rep. Sharon Wylie (D-Vancouver)
Rep. Steve Tharinger (D-Port Townsend) announced March 10 he would not seek a 9th term representing the 24th District covering the Olympic Peninsula in Olympia. Tharinger was first elected in 2010, after having previously served as a Clallam County commissioner.
During his time in office, he focused on infrastructure, job creation, and health care. He most recently served as chair of the House Capital Budget Committee, overseeing billions of dollars in spending on schools, housing, parks, and other public facilities.
Rep. Michelle Valdez (R-Gig Harbor) announced in late February she will not seek reelection to the Washington House of Representatives, serving District 26. First elected in 2014, she was re-elected five times representing parts of Kitsap and Pierce counties and includes Bremerton, Port Orchard, Purdy and Gig Harbor.
In her legislative tenure, Rep. Valdez made an indelible impression as a voice for foster youth, seniors, crime victims, and working families. Legally blind, she kept the needs of people with disabilities centered in her policy pursuits.
Rep. Michelle Valdez