Jamie Pedersen

Pedersen was born in Puyallup, Washington, and graduated from Puyallup High School.[9][1] Pedersen received a bachelor's degree in Soviet and East European studies and American studies from Yale College in 1990 and a J.D. from Yale Law School in 1994. He then clerked for Judge Stephen Williams on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Pedersen was a lawyer at K&L Gates from 1995 to 2012, when he joined McKinstry as executive vice president and general counsel.[1][3][10]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in Puyallup and graduated from Yale College and Yale Law School. After 17 years at a large Seattle law firm, I went to work as Executive Vice President and General Counsel at McKinstry, a Seattle-based construction and engineering firm specializing in energy efficient building.

Community service is central to my work. I am the treasurer and teach Sunday School at Central Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill, chaired the board of the national civil rights organization Lambda Legal, and serve as a scout troop leader. I also provide free legal services to several nonprofits.

Before joining the legislature, I advocated for marriage equality and LGBTQ+ civil rights. I helped lead the successful six-year effort to win marriage equality in the legislature, making Washington State one of the first states in the nation to have full marriage rights for same-sex couples.

After serving in the House from 2006-2013, I was appointed to the Senate. After four years as chair of the Senate Law & Justice Committee and three years as Majority Floor Leader, my colleagues elected me Senate Majority Leader.

Throughout my career, I have worked to make life better for people in Washington. This includes increased funding for public schools, gun violence prevention, and progressive revenue policies such as the Millionaires Tax and Capital Gains Tax. These accomplishments reflect my commitment to effective, forward-thinking governance that improves people’s lives.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Building a fully funded, world-class education system from early learning through higher education. As a parent of three children in Seattle Public Schools and a recent graduate, I have seen what students and families need. We will work hard to provide better-funded classrooms, with up-to-date textbooks, supplies, and resources for teachers and students; increased support for special education, including more staff to serve students with individualized education plans; safer, more reliable school transportation; and expanded access to extracurriculars and enrichment opportunities. Investing in education is investing in our future, and I am committed to delivering on that promise.Rebalancing our tax structure for working families. As the Majority Leader in the Washington State Senate, I led the effort to pass the Millionaires Tax, which about 25,000 wealthy households in Washington will pay, but which will provide sales tax cuts and essential services like healthcare and education for 8 million of us. I support progressive, sustainable mechanisms to fund the services that people rely on. I want to change the B&O tax, eliminate the uniformity clause for property taxes to tax commercial property at higher rates than residential property, and replace a significant portion of the sales tax with taxes on high incomes. With bold solutions, we can create a more equitable system for working families and communities.Increasing the supply of all types of housing, especially social housing, public housing, and transitional housing for those exiting homelessness. I am committed to passing legislation that cuts red tape, lowers construction costs, and increases density to boost housing supply. In the 2026 session, we made important progress by passing a package of bills to streamline permitting, reduce the use of zoning to prevent housing construction, and preserve existing housing. I will continue building on this progress by advancing policies that remove unnecessary barriers and cost drivers to accelerate the construction of new homes while also leveraging the operating and capital budgets to invest in affordable housing.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

My greatest passion is funding public schools. Our state is not meeting its constitutional duty to provide ample education funding. Districts across the state are struggling with costs from special education and transportation to materials, supplies, and operating costs (including insurance). As a parent of four children in Seattle Public Schools, I have seen the consequences firsthand with teacher layoffs, larger class sizes, and potential school closures. That is why I led the effort to pass the Millionaires Tax this past session. I am committed to continuing work to make our tax system fairer and more adequate so that we can invest not only in K-12 schools, but in a coordinated system from early learning through higher education.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates

Sierra Club

Washington State Labor Council

SEIU 775

SEIU Local 925

SEIU Healthcare 1199NW

Teamsters 117

UFCW 3000

Alliance for Gun Responsibility Victory Fund

WEA PAC

Seattle Education Association

Governor Bob Ferguson

Attorney General Nick Brown

King County Executive Girmay Zahilay

King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda

Seattle City Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth

Every Democratic State Senator

Jamie Pedersen did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.