STATES AND TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED STATES (WASHINGTON).

In this post we will looking at Washington and its territories, Its past and present governors and current House of representative’s members.

INTRODUCTION.

Washington officially the State of Washington, is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. Named for George Washington—the first U.S. president—the state was formed from the western part of the Washington Territory, which was ceded by the British Empire in 1846, by the Oregon Treaty in the settlement of the Oregon boundary dispute. The state is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, Oregon to the south, Idaho to the east, and the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north—was admitted to the Union as the 42nd state in 1889. Olympia is the state capital; the state’s largest city is Seattle. Washington is often referred to as Washington state to distinguish it from the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. Washington is the 18th-largest state, with an area of 71,362 square miles (184,830 km2), and the 13th-most populous state, with more than 7.7 million people. The majority of Washington’s residents live in the Seattle metropolitan area, the center of transportation, business, and industry on Puget Sound, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean consisting of numerous islands, deep fjords, and bays carved out by glaciers. The remainder of the state consists of deep temperate rainforests in the west; mountain ranges in the west, central, northeast, and far southeast; and a semi-arid basin region in the east, central, and south, given over to intensive agriculture. Washington is the second most populous state on the West Coast and in the Western United States, after California. Mount Rainier, an active stratovolcano, is the state’s highest elevation at 14,411 feet (4,392 meters), and is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous U.S. Washington is a leading lumber producer; its rugged surface is rich in stands of Douglas fir, hemlock, ponderosa pine, white pine, spruce, larch, and cedar. The state is the largest producer of apples, hops, pears, blueberries, spearmint oil, and sweet cherries in the U.S., and ranks high in the production of apricots, asparagus, dry edible peas, grapes, lentils, peppermint oil, and potatoes. Livestock, livestock products, and commercial fishing—particularly of salmon, halibut, and bottomfish—are also significant contributors to the state’s economy. Washington ranks second only to California in wine production. Manufacturing industries in Washington include aircraft, missiles, shipbuilding, and other transportation equipment, food processing, metals, and metal products, chemicals, and machinery. Washington has more than a thousand dams, including the Grand Coulee Dam, built for a variety of purposes including irrigation, electricity generation, flood control, and water storage. Washington is one of the wealthiest as well as most socially liberal states in the country. The state consistently ranks among the best for life expectancy and low unemployment. Along with Colorado, Washington was one of the first to legalize medicinal and recreational cannabis, was among the first states to legalize same-sex marriage in 2012, and was one of only four U.S. states to have been providing legal abortions on request before the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade loosened abortion laws nationwide. Similarly, Washington voters approved a 2008 referendum on legalization of physician-assisted suicide and Washington is currently one of ten states—along with Washington, D.C.—to have legalized the practice

WASHINGTON TERRITORIES.

Washington is the northwesternmost state of the contiguous United States. It borders Idaho to the east, bounded mostly by the meridian running north from the confluence of the Snake River and Clearwater River (about 117°02’23” west), except for the southernmost section where the border follows the Snake River. Oregon is to the south, with the Columbia River forming the western part and the 46th parallel forming the eastern part of the Oregon–Washington border. During Washington’s partition from Oregon, the original plan for the border followed the Columbia River east until the confluence with the Snake, and then would have followed the Snake River east; this was changed to keep Walla Walla’s fertile farmland in Washington. To the west of Washington lies the Pacific Ocean. Its northern border lies mostly along the 49th parallel, and then via marine boundaries through the Strait of Georgia, Haro Strait, and Strait of Juan de Fuca, with the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north. Washington is part of a region known as the Pacific Northwest, a term which always refers to at least Washington and Oregon, and may or may not include some or all the following, depending on the user’s intent: Idaho, western Montana, northern California, British Columbia, and Alaska. The high mountains of the Cascade Range run north-south, bisecting the state. In addition to Western Washington and Eastern Washington, residents call the two parts of the state the “Westside” and the “Eastside”, “Wet side” and “Dry side”, or “Timberland” and “Wheatland”, the latter pair more commonly in the names of region-specific businesses and institutions. These terms reflect the geography, climate, and industry of the land on both sides of the Cascades.

LIST OF GOVERNORS OF WASHINGTON.

Twenty-two individuals have held the office of Governor of Washington since the state’s admission to the Union, with Arthur B. Langlie serving non-consecutive terms. Populist Party candidate John Rankin Rogers is the only non-Democratic or Republican nominee to win office. The most recent governor to be from Eastern Washington was Clarence Martin, elected in 1932. The current governor is Democrat Jay Inslee, who took office on January 16, 2013, and was reelected in 2016 and 2020; his term will expire on January 15, 2025. Washington has had the longest current streak of Democratic governors in the nation, with the last Republican to hold the office being John Spellman in 1985. With the re-election of Inslee in 2020, Langlie, Daniel J. Evans and Inslee are the only three Washington governors to be elected to three terms.

Governors of the Territory of Washington

Washington Territory was created on March 2, 1853, from the northern half of Oregon Territory. At this point, Washington Territory also included the northern panhandle of modern Idaho and parts of Montana. The southern half of Idaho was assigned to the Washington Territory in 1859 after Oregon was admitted as a state. Idaho Territory was split from Washington Territory in 1863 giving Washington Territory its final borders. Due to the long distance between Washington, D.C., and Olympia, there was often a lengthy gap between a governor being appointed and his arrival in the territory.

Governor Took office[b] Left office Appointed by Notes
    Isaac Stevens December 3, 1853[11] August 11, 1857[12] Franklin Pierce  
    Fayette McMullen September 10, 1857[13] July 1858[14] James Buchanan
    Richard D. Gholson July 15, 1859[15] February 14, 1861[16] [c]
    William H. Wallace Appointed April 9, 1861[18] Abraham Lincoln [d]
    William Pickering June 1862[20] January 8, 1867[21] [e]
    George Edward Cole January 8, 1867[21] March 4, 1867[21] Andrew Johnson [e]
    Marshall F. Moore August 26, 1867[23] April 5, 1869  
    Alvan Flanders April 5, 1869[24] March 14, 1870[25] Ulysses S. Grant
    Edward S. Salomon Appointed March 4, 1870[26] April 1872[26]
    Elisha P. Ferry Appointed April 26, 1872[27] November 1, 1880[28] [f]
    William A. Newell November 1, 1880[28] July 2, 1884 Rutherford B. Hayes  
    Watson C. Squire Appointed July 2, 1884[27] April 9, 1887[30] Chester A. Arthur [f]
    Eugene Semple Appointed April 9, 1887[31] April 9, 1889 Grover Cleveland
    Miles Conway Moore April 9, 1889[32] November 11, 1889 Benjamin Harrison

Governors of the State of Washington

Washington was admitted to the Union on November 11, 1889. The term for governor is four years, commencing on the second Monday in the January following the election. If the office of governor is vacant or the governor is unable to discharge their duties, the lieutenant governor assumes the duties of governor, though still officially retains the office of lieutenant governor. If both the offices of governor and lieutenant governor are unable to fulfill their duties, the secretary of state is next in line, and then the treasurer. There is no limit to the number of terms a governor may serve. The office of lieutenant governor is not elected on the same ticket as the governor.

# Governor Took office Left office Office Prior to Ascension Party Election Terms[h]
1     Elisha P. Ferry
August 9, 1825 – October 14, 1895
(aged 70)
November 11, 1889 January 11, 1893 10th Governor of the Washington Territory Republican 1889 1
2     John McGraw
October 4, 1850 – June 23, 1910
(aged 59)
January 11, 1893 January 13, 1897 King County Sheriff 1892 1
3     John Rankin Rogers
September 4, 1838 – December 26, 1901
(aged 63)
January 13, 1897 December 26, 1901 Washington House of Representatives Populist 1896 1+12[i][j]
  Democratic
4     Henry McBride
February 7, 1856 – October 7, 1937
(aged 81)
December 26, 1901 January 11, 1905 Lieutenant Governor of Washington Republican 1900 12[k]
5     Albert E. Mead
December 14, 1861 – March 19, 1913
(aged 51)
January 11, 1905 January 27, 1909 Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney 1904 1
6     Samuel G. Cosgrove
April 10, 1847 – March 28, 1909
(aged 61)
January 27, 1909 March 28, 1909 Mayor of Pomeroy 1908 12[j]
7     Marion E. Hay
December 9, 1865 – November 21, 1933
(aged 67)
March 28, 1909 January 15, 1913 Lieutenant Governor of Washington Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
12[k]
8     Ernest Lister
June 15, 1870 – June 14, 1919
(aged 48)
January 15, 1913 February 13, 1919 Chairman of the State Board of Control Democratic 1912 1+12[l]
1916
9     Louis F. Hart
January 4, 1862 – December 4, 1929
(aged 67)
February 13, 1919 January 14, 1925 Lieutenant Governor of Washington Republican 1920 1+12[m]
10     Roland H. Hartley
June 26, 1864 – September 21, 1952
(aged 88)
January 14, 1925 January 11, 1933 Washington House of Representatives 1924 2
1928
11     Clarence D. Martin
June 29, 1886 – August 11, 1955
(aged 69)
January 11, 1933 January 15, 1941 Mayor of Cheney Democratic 1932 2
1936
12     Arthur B. Langlie
July 25, 1900 – July 24, 1966
(aged 65)
January 15, 1941 January 10, 1945 Mayor of Seattle Republican 1940 1
13     Monrad Wallgren
April 17, 1891 – September 18, 1961
(aged 70)
January 10, 1945 January 12, 1949 U.S. Senator from Washington Democratic 1944 1
14     Arthur B. Langlie
July 25, 1900 – July 24, 1966
(aged 65)
January 12, 1949 January 16, 1957 12th Governor of Washington Republican 1948 2
1952
15     Albert Rosellini
January 21, 1910 – October 10, 2011
(aged 101)
January 16, 1957 January 13, 1965 Washington State Senate Democratic 1956 2
1960
16     Daniel J. Evans
October 16, 1925 (age 96)
January 13, 1965 January 12, 1977 Washington House of Representatives Republican 1964 3
1968
1972
17     Dixy Lee Ray
September 3, 1914 – January 2, 1994
(aged 79)
January 12, 1977 January 14, 1981 Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Democratic 1976 1
18     John Spellman
December 29, 1926 – January 15, 2018
(aged 91)
January 14, 1981 January 16, 1985 King County Executive Republican 1980 1
19     Booth Gardner
August 21, 1936 – March 15, 2013
(aged 76)
January 16, 1985 January 13, 1993 Pierce County Executive Democratic 1984 2
1988
20     Mike Lowry
March 8, 1939 – May 1, 2017
(aged 78)
January 13, 1993 January 15, 1997 U.S. Representative from WA-7th 1992 1
21     Gary Locke
January 21, 1950 (age 72)
January 15, 1997 January 12, 2005 King County Executive 1996 2
2000
22     Christine Gregoire
March 24, 1947 (age 75)
January 12, 2005 January 16, 2013 Attorney General of Washington 2004 2
2008
23     Jay Inslee
February 9, 1951 (age 71)
January 16, 2013 Incumbent[n] U.S. Representative from WA-01 2012 3
2016
2020

MEMBERS OF REPRESENTATIVES TO THE U.S. HOUSE FROM WASHINGTON.

The following is an alphabetical list of members of the United States House of Representatives from the state of Washington. For chronological tables of members of both houses of the United States Congress from the state (through the present day), see United States congressional delegations from Washington.

List of representatives

Members Party Years District Electoral history
Brock Adams Democratic January 3, 1965 – January 22, 1977 7th Elected in 1964.
Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of Transportation.
John B. Allen Republican March 4, 1889 – November 11, 1889 Territory Elected in 1888.
Retired to run for U.S. senator upon statehood.
James Patton Anderson Democratic March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857 Territory Elected in 1854.
Retired.
Brian Baird Democratic January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2011 3rd Elected in 1998.
Retired.
Don Bonker Democratic January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1989 3rd Elected in 1974.
Retired.
Thomas Hurley Brents Republican March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1885 Territory Elected in 1878.
Lost renomination.
James W. Bryan Progressive March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1915 At-large Elected in 1912.
Redistricted and lost renomination.
Maria Cantwell Democratic January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995 1st Elected in 1992.
Lost re-election to White.
Rod Chandler Republican January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1993 8th Elected in 1982.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
John M. Coffee Democratic January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1947 6th Elected in 1936.
Lost re-election to Tollefson.
George Edward Cole Democratic March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865 Territory Elected in 1862.
Retired.
John E. Cunningham Republican May 17, 1977 – January 3, 1979 7th Elected to finish Adams’s term.
Lost re-election to Lowry.
Francis W. Cushman Republican March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1909 At-large Elected in 1898.
Redistricted to the 2nd district.
March 4, 1909 – July 6, 1909 2nd Redistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1908.
Died.
Hugh De Lacy Democratic January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1947 1st Elected in 1944.
Lost re-election to H. Jones.
Suzan DelBene Democratic November 6, 2012 – present 1st Elected to finish Inslee’s term.
Incumbent.
Arthur A. Denny Republican March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1867 Territory Elected in 1864.
Retired.
Norman D. Dicks Democratic January 3, 1977 – January 3, 2013 6th Elected in 1976.
Retired.
Clarence Dill Democratic March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1919 5th Elected in 1914.
Lost re-election to Webster.
William H. Doolittle Republican March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1897 At-large Elected in 1892.
Lost re-election to Lewis.
Jennifer Dunn Republican January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2005 8th Elected in 1992.
Retired.
Jacob Falconer Progressive March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1915 At-large Elected in 1912.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
Alvan Flanders Republican March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1869 Territory Elected in 1866.
Retired.
Tom Foley Democratic January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1995 5th Elected in 1964.
Lost re-election to Nethercutt.
Selucius Garfielde Republican March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1873 Territory Elected in 1868.
Lost re-election to McFadden.
Lindley H. Hadley Republican March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1933 2nd Elected in 1914.
Lost re-election to Wallgren.
Julia Butler Hansen Democratic November 8, 1960 – December 31, 1974 3rd Elected to finish Mack’s term.
Retired and resigned early.
Doc Hastings Republican January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2015 4th Elected in 1994.
Retired.
Denny Heck Democratic January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2021 10th Elected in 2012.
Retired to run for Lieutenant Governor.
Jaime Herrera Beutler Republican January 3, 2011 – present 3rd Elected in 2010.
Incumbent.
Floyd Hicks Democratic January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1977 6th Elected in 1964.
Retired.
Knute Hill Democratic March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1943 4th Elected in 1932.
Lost re-election to Holmes.
Samuel B. Hill Democratic September 25, 1923 – June 25, 1936 5th Elected to finish Dill’s term.
Resigned to become member of the U.S. Board of Tax Appeals.
Hal Holmes Republican January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1959 4th Elected in 1942.
Retired.
Walt Horan Republican January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1965 5th Elected in 1942.
Lost re-election to Foley.
Ralph Horr Republican March 4, 1931 – March 3, 1933 1st Elected in 1930.
Lost renomination to J.F. Miller.
William E. Humphrey Republican March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1909 At-large Elected in 1902.
Redistricted to the 1st district.
March 4, 1909 – March 3, 1917 1st Redistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1908.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
Samuel C. Hyde Republican March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1897 At-large Elected in 1894.
Lost re-election to W.C. Jones.
Jay Inslee Democratic January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995 4th Elected in 1992.
Lost re-election to Hastings.
January 3, 1999 – March 20, 2012 1st Elected in 1998.
Resigned to run for governor.
Henry M. Jackson Democratic January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1953 2nd Elected in 1940.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
Orange Jacobs Republican March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879 Territory Elected in 1874.
Retired.
Pramila Jayapal Democratic January 3, 2017 – present 7th Elected in 2016.
Incumbent.
Albert Johnson Republican March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1915 2nd Elected in 1912.
Redistricted to the 3rd district.
March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1933 3rd Redistricted from the 2nd district and re-elected in 1914.
Lost re-election to M. Smith.
Homer Jones Republican January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949 1st Elected in 1946.
Lost re-election to Mitchell.
Wesley Livsey Jones Republican March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1909 At-large Elected in 1898.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
William Carey Jones Republican March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899 At-large Elected in 1896.
Lost re-election to W.L. Jones.
Derek Kilmer Democratic January 3, 2013 – present 6th Elected in 2012.
Incumbent.
Mike Kreidler Democratic January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995 9th Elected in 1992.
Lost re-election to Tate.
William La Follette Republican March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1915 3rd Elected in 1910.
Redistricted to the 4th district.
March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1919 4th Redistricted from the 3rd district and re-elected in 1914.
Lost renomination to Summers.
Columbia Lancaster Democratic April 12, 1854 – March 3, 1855 Territory Elected in April 1854.
Lost renomination to Anderson.
Rick Larsen Democratic January 3, 2001 – present 2nd Elected in 2000.
Incumbent.
Charles H. Leavy Democratic January 3, 1937 – August 1, 1942 5th Elected in 1936.
Resigned to become judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
J. Hamilton Lewis Democratic March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899 At-large Elected in 1896.
Lost re-election to Cushman.
Wesley Lloyd Democratic March 3, 1933 – January 10, 1936 6th Elected in 1932.
Died.
Mike Lowry Democratic January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1989 7th Elected in 1978.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
Russell V. Mack Republican July 7, 1947 – March 28, 1960 3rd Elected to finish Norman’s term.
Died.
Donald H. Magnuson Democratic January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1959 At-large Elected in 1952.
Redistricted to the 7th district.
January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1963 7th Redistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1958.
Lost re-election to Stinson.
Warren G. Magnuson Democratic January 3, 1937 – December 13, 1944 1st Elected in 1936.
Retired to run for U.S. senator and resigned when elected.
Catherine Dean May Republican January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1971 4th Elected in 1958.
Lost re-election to McCormack.
Mike McCormack Democratic January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1981 4th Elected in 1970.
Lost re-election to Morrison.
William W. McCredie Republican March 4, 1909 – March 3, 1911 2nd Elected to finish Cushman’s term.
Lost renomination to Warburton.
Jim McDermott Democratic January 3, 1989 – January 3, 2017 7th Elected in 1988.
Retired.
Obadiah B. McFadden Democratic March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 Territory Elected in 1872.
Retired.
Cathy McMorris Rodgers Republican January 3, 2005 – present 5th Elected in 2004.
Incumbent.
Lloyd Meeds Democratic January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1979 2nd Elected in 1964.
Retired.
Jack Metcalf Republican January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2001 2nd Elected in 1994.
Retired.
John F. Miller Republican March 4, 1917 – March 3, 1931 1st Elected in 1916.
Lost renomination to Horr.
John Ripin Miller Republican January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1993 1st Elected in 1984.
Retired.
Hugh Mitchell Democratic January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1953 1st Elected in 1948.
Retired to run for governor.
Sid Morrison Republican January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1993 4th Elected in 1980.
Retired to run for governor.
George Nethercutt Republican January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2005 5th Elected in 1994.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
Dan Newhouse Republican January 3, 2015 – present 4th Elected in 2014.
Incumbent.
Fred B. Norman Republican January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1945 3rd Elected in 1942.
Lost re-election to Savage.
January 3, 1947 – April 18, 1947 Elected in 1946.
Died.
Thomas Pelly Republican January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1973 1st Elected in 1952.
Retired.
Miles Poindexter Republican March 4, 1909 – March 3, 1911 3rd Elected in 1908.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
Joel Pritchard Republican January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1985 1st Elected in 1972.
Retired.
Dave Reichert Republican January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2019 8th Elected in 2004.
Retired.
Charles R. Savage Democratic January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1947 3rd Elected in 1944.
Lost re-election to Norman.
Kim Schrier Democratic January 3, 2019 – present 8th Elected in 2018.
Incumbent.
Adam Smith Democratic January 3, 1997 – present 9th Elected in 1996.
Incumbent.
Linda Smith Republican January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1999 3rd Elected in 1994.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
Martin F. Smith Democratic March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1943 3rd Elected in 1932.
Lost re-election to Norman.
Isaac Stevens Democratic March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861 Territory Elected in 1856.
Retired.
Marilyn Strickland Democratic January 3, 2021 – present 10th Elected in 2020.
Incumbent.
K. William Stinson Republican January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1965 7th Elected in 1962.
Lost re-election to Adams.
John W. Summers Republican March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1933 4th Elected in 1918.
Lost re-election to K. Hill.
Al Swift Democratic January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1995 2nd Elected in 1978.
Retired.
Randy Tate Republican January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1997 9th Elected in 1994.
Lost re-election to A. Smith.
Thor C. Tollefson Republican January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1965 6th Elected in 1946.
Lost re-election to Hicks.
Jolene Unsoeld Democratic January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1995 3rd Elected in 1988.
Lost re-election to L. Smith.
Charles Stewart Voorhees Democratic March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889 Territory Elected in 1884.
Lost re-election to Allen.
William H. Wallace Republican March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863 Territory Elected in 1860.
Retired.
Monrad Wallgren Democratic March 4, 1933 – December 19, 1940 2nd Elected in 1932.
Retired to run for U.S. senator and resigned when elected.
Stanton Warburton Republican March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1913 2nd Elected in 1910.
Lost renomination to Johnson.
J. Stanley Webster Republican March 4, 1919 – May 8, 1923 5th Elected in 1918.
Resigned to become judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington.
Jack Westland Republican January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1965 2nd Elected in 1952.
Lost re-election to Meeds.
Rick White Republican January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1999 1st Elected in 1994.
Lost re-election to Inslee.
John L. Wilson Republican November 20, 1889 – February 18, 1895 At-large Elected in 1889.
Retired to run for U.S. senator and resigned when elected.
Marion Zioncheck Democratic March 4, 1933 – August 7, 1936 1st Elected in 1932.
Died.