Secretary of State Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Hobbs, Anderson Lead In WA Secretary Of State’s Race

By Austin Jenkins August 4, 2022

In early ballot returns, Democrat Steve Hobbs was leading the state's top two primary for Secretary of State with 41 percent of the vote. In second place was Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson.

Democratic incumbent Steve Hobbs and independent challenger Julie Anderson were leading Washington’s top two primary for Secretary of State after the initial ballot count Tuesday night. Republican Bob Hagglund, who has never held public office, was in a close third place.Read More

Washington Primary Will Winnow Large Field For Secretary Of State

By Austin Jenkins July 19, 2022

Some candidates for Washington Secretary of State want to return to poll-based voting, or at least offer it as an option in addition to vote by mail.

For nearly six decades, Republicans held Washington's top election post — Secretary of State. That streak ended last November when Kim Wyman resigned to take an election security post with the Biden administration, and Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Democratic state Sen. Steve Hobbs to the post.Read More

WA Secretary Of State On Cyber Threats And Cyber Security

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour June 30, 2022

Franklin County Auditor Matt Beaton, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, Benton County Auditor Brenda Chilton Listen (Runtime 2:42) Read Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs is calling attention to election […]Read More

Secretary Of State Steve Hobbs Visits Benton County: Talks Election Security

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour June 29, 2022

Franklin County Auditor Matt Beaton, SOS Steve Hobbs, Benton County Auditor Brenda Chilton Listen (Runtime 1:27) Read Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs is touring counties in Washington to meet […]Read More

A Lone Holdout. Why Washington’s Secretary Of State Says She Didn’t Impose Vaccine Mandate

By Austin Jenkins November 3, 2021

Sec. of State Kim Wyman is Washington's only Republican statewide officeholder and the only one who didn't impose a vaccine mandate on her staff.

Washington has nine independently elected statewide officeholders. All but one of those elected officials has required their employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The holdout was the lone Republican.Read More

Are Washington Republicans About To Lose Their Nearly 60-Year Lock On The Secretary Of State’s Office?

By Austin Jenkins October 28, 2021

Potential candidates to replace Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman are already stepping forward after Wyman, a Republican, announced she will resign next month to take an election security position with the Biden administration. Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, will appoint Wyman's replacement. That could spell the end of a nearly six decades Republican lock on the Read More

Washington Secretary Of State Returns To Work After Cancer Treatment

By Austin Jenkins July 3, 2017

Secretary of State Wyman returned to work after several weeks of cancer treatment. TED S. WARREN / ASSOCIATED PRESS Listen Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman has returned to work […]Read More