Washington House of Representatives District 21
Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 1 is represented by Strom Peterson (D). Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 2 is represented by Lillian Ortiz-Self (D).
As of the 2020 Census, Washington state representatives represented an average of 78,734 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 68,912 residents.
About the office
Members of the Washington House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Washington legislators assume office the second Monday of January.[1]
Qualifications
Section 7 of Article 2 of the Washington State Constitution states, "No person shall be eligible to the legislature who shall not be a citizen of the United States and a qualified voter in the district for which he is chosen."[2]
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[3] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $60,191/year for senators. $61,997/year for representatives. | $202/day |
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Washington State Legislature, the board of county commissioners where the vacant seat is located has the responsibility to select a replacement. The county central committee of the political party that last held the seat must submit a list of three candidates to the board of county commissioners representing the vacant district. If the vacancy occurs in the office of a joint senator or joint representative, the state central committee is responsible for submitting the list of three candidates. A selection must be made within 60 days after the vacancy occurred. The person appointed will hold the seat until his or her successor is elected at the next general or special election in November.[4]
See sources: Washington Const. Art. 2, Sec. 15
District map
Redistricting
2020-2022
State legislative maps enacted in 2024
On March 15, 2024, Judge Robert Lasnik of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington ordered the state to adopt a new legislative map named Remedial Map 3B that complies with the Voting Rights Act. Judge Lasnik ordered Washington to redraw a legislative district in the Yakima Valley region because its boundaries undermined the ability of Latino voters to participate equally in elections. According to the district court's decision:[5][6]
| “ | The task of fashioning a remedy for a Voting Rights Act violation is not one that falls within the Court’s normal duties. It is only because the State declined to reconvene the Redistricting Commission – with its expertise, staff, and ability to solicit public comments – that the Court was compelled to step in. Nevertheless, with the comprehensive and extensive presentations from the parties, the participation of the Yakama Nation, and the able assistance of Ms. Mac Donald, the Court is confident that the adopted map best achieves the many goals of the remedial process. The Secretary of State is hereby ORDERED to conduct future elections according to Remedial Map 3B...[6][7] | ” |
On August 10, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington struck down the state's legislative maps, which were drawn by the bipartisan state Redistricting Commission in 2021, after finding that they discriminate against Latino voters in violation of the Voting Rights Act. At the time, the 15th district encompassed parts of five counties in south-central Washington and was represented by three Republicans.[5]
“The question in this case is whether the state has engaged in line-drawing which, in combination with the social and historical conditions in the Yakima Valley region, impairs the ability of Latino voters in that area to elect their candidate of choice on an equal basis with other voters. The answer is yes,” Judge Lasnik wrote in the district court's 32-page decision.[5]
Reactions to 2024 state legislative maps
Simone Leeper, an attorney with Campaign Legal Center representing the coalition of Latino voters that brought the lawsuit challenging legislative district boundaries called the ruling a definitive win and said, “For the first time, Latinos in the region will have the voice that they deserve in the Legislature. She also praised the decision's “repeated recognition of the history of discrimination and continuing struggle that Latinos have in the region and the incredible need for true representation to address those concerns.”[5]
State Senate map
Below is the state Senate map in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle.
Washington State Senate Districts
before 2020 redistricting cycle
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Washington State Senate Districts
after 2020 redistricting cycle
Click a district to compare boundaries.
State House map
Below is the state House map in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle.
Washington State House Districts
before 2020 redistricting cycle
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Washington State House Districts
after 2020 redistricting cycle
Click a district to compare boundaries.
State legislative maps enacted in 2022
The Washington House approved final state legislative map proposals on February 2, 2022, and the Senate approved the legislative plan on February 8, 2022 in a 35-14 vote.[8]Washington’s four redistricting commissioners each released their proposed state legislative maps on September 21, 2021. On November 16, 2021, the commission announced that it was not able to produce new maps by its November 15 deadline and had submitted plans to the Supreme Court for consideration, as authority to draw new maps passes to the court if the commission fails to agree on maps before the deadline. The court decided to accept the final map drafts the commission submitted, ruling that it had "substantially complied" with the deadline.[9] These maps took effect for Washington's 2022 legislative elections.
Reactions to 2022 state legislative maps
Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig (D) voted for the legislative but said, “I continue to have significant concern that the Yakima Valley legislative district may not be compliant with the federal Voting Rights Act.” Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D) said, “I think I’m not the only one who was surprised and disappointed that this past Nov. 15, as the clock approached midnight, without actually having agreed on a plan, without having published a plan for public comment, our redistricting commission voted to approve some sort of oral agreement that they had to send that over to us.”[10]
Commission member April Sims said, “I just think there is something really powerful about forcing folks who normally wouldn’t come together to come together. It means everyone has to give a little in the process and no one side wins. And I think that’s good for democracy and good for the public.”[11] In their decision to not alter the commission-approved maps, the justices of the Washington Supreme Court wrote, “This is not a situation in which the Supreme Court must step in because the Commission has failed to agree on a plan it believes complies with state and federal equirements.”[12]
How does redistricting in Washington work? In Washington, congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by a five-member non-politician commission. The commission was established by constitutional amendment in 1983. The majority and minority leaders of the Washington State Senate and Washington House of Representatives each appoint one registered voter to the commission. These four commissioners appoint a fifth, non-voting member to serve as the commission's chair. In the event that the four voting commissioners cannot agree on a chair, the Washington Supreme Court must appoint one.[13]
The Washington Constitution stipulates that no commission member may have been an elected official or party officer in the two-year period prior to his or her appointment. Individuals who have registered with the state as lobbyists within the past year are also prohibited from serving on the commission.[13]
The Washington State Legislature may amend the commission's maps by a two-thirds vote in each legislative chamber.[13]
The state constitution requires that congressional and state legislative districts "should be contiguous, compact, and convenient, and follow natural, geographic, artificial, or political subdivision boundaries." The constitution states that the redistricting commission "must not purposely draw plans to favor or discriminate against any political party or group."[13]
State statutes require that congressional and state legislative districts "preserve areas recognized as communities of interest." State statutes also require the commission to draw districts that "provide fair and effective representation" and "encourage electoral competition."[13]
Washington House of Representatives District 21
before 2020 redistricting cycle
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Washington House of Representatives District 21
after 2020 redistricting cycle
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2024
District 21-Position 1
General election
General election for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 1
Incumbent Strom Peterson defeated Riaz Khan in the general election for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 1 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Strom Peterson (D) | 66.7 | 46,705 | |
| Riaz Khan (R) | 33.1 | 23,156 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 169 | ||
| Total votes: 70,030 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 1
Incumbent Strom Peterson and Riaz Khan defeated Jason Moon in the primary for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 1 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Strom Peterson (D) | 50.5 | 17,893 | |
| ✔ | Riaz Khan (R) | 27.4 | 9,715 | |
| Jason Moon (D) | 21.9 | 7,746 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 76 | ||
| Total votes: 35,430 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
District 21-Position 2
General election
General election for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 2
Incumbent Lillian Ortiz-Self defeated Kristina Mitchell in the general election for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 2 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Lillian Ortiz-Self (D) | 67.1 | 46,422 | |
| Kristina Mitchell (Conservative Party) | 32.6 | 22,579 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 156 | ||
| Total votes: 69,157 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 2
Incumbent Lillian Ortiz-Self and Kristina Mitchell defeated Bruce Guthrie in the primary for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 2 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Lillian Ortiz-Self (D) | 67.2 | 23,435 | |
| ✔ | Kristina Mitchell (Conservative Party) | 22.4 | 7,806 | |
| Bruce Guthrie (L) | 10.2 | 3,555 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 86 | ||
| Total votes: 34,882 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2022
District 21-Position 1
General election
General election for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 1
Incumbent Strom Peterson defeated Amy Schaper in the general election for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 1 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Strom Peterson (D) | 67.4 | 38,522 | |
| Amy Schaper (R) | 32.5 | 18,607 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 55 | ||
| Total votes: 57,184 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 1
Incumbent Strom Peterson and Amy Schaper advanced from the primary for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 1 on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Strom Peterson (D) | 67.1 | 23,082 | |
| ✔ | Amy Schaper (R) | 32.7 | 11,261 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 46 | ||
| Total votes: 34,389 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
District 21-Position 2
General election
General election for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 2
Incumbent Lillian Ortiz-Self defeated Petra Bigea in the general election for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 2 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Lillian Ortiz-Self (D) | 66.7 | 37,974 | |
| Petra Bigea (R) | 33.2 | 18,942 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 54 | ||
| Total votes: 56,970 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 2
Incumbent Lillian Ortiz-Self and Petra Bigea defeated Jenifer Short in the primary for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 2 on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Lillian Ortiz-Self (D) | 65.7 | 22,621 | |
| ✔ | Petra Bigea (R) | 17.8 | 6,130 | |
| Jenifer Short (R) | 16.3 | 5,625 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 49 | ||
| Total votes: 34,425 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2020
District 21-Position 1
General election
General election for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 1
Incumbent Strom Peterson defeated Brian Thompson in the general election for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 1 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Strom Peterson (D) | 64.6 | 50,793 | |
| Brian Thompson (R) | 35.3 | 27,801 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 72 | ||
| Total votes: 78,666 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 1
Incumbent Strom Peterson and Brian Thompson defeated Gant Diede in the primary for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 1 on August 4, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Strom Peterson (D) | 55.6 | 25,272 | |
| ✔ | Brian Thompson (R) | 34.8 | 15,829 | |
| Gant Diede (D) | 9.5 | 4,307 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 54 | ||
| Total votes: 45,462 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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District 21-Position 2
General election
General election for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 2
Incumbent Lillian Ortiz-Self defeated Amy Schaper in the general election for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 2 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Lillian Ortiz-Self (D) | 65.9 | 51,619 | |
| Amy Schaper (R) | 34.0 | 26,607 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 92 | ||
| Total votes: 78,318 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 2
Incumbent Lillian Ortiz-Self and Amy Schaper defeated Willie Russell in the primary for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 2 on August 4, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Lillian Ortiz-Self (D) | 64.7 | 29,673 | |
| ✔ | Amy Schaper (R) | 32.8 | 15,034 | |
| Willie Russell (Unaffiliated) | 2.4 | 1,110 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 60 | ||
| Total votes: 45,877 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
District 21-Position 1
General election
Incumbent Strom Peterson defeated Amy Schaper in the general election for Washington House of Representatives District 21-Position 1 on November 6, 2018.
