Christine Rolfes
Christine Rolfes (Democratic Party) was a member of the Washington State Senate, representing District 23. She assumed office in 2011. She left office on August 15, 2023.
Rolfes (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Washington State Senate to represent District 23. She won in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Rolfes first joined the chamber after her appointment in July 2011, when she was appointed by Governor Christine Gregoire to fill the vacancy left by Phil Rockefeller. Rockefeller resigned to assume an appointment to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council.[1]
Rolfes served as Minority Floor Leader from 2015 to 2016. She served as a Democratic member of the Washington House of Representatives, representing District 23-Position 2 from 2007 to 2011. Previously, she was chair of the Bainbridge Island City Council.
Rolfes resigned from the Washington State Senate on August 15, 2023. She was sworn in to a seat on the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners. [2]
Biography
Rolfes holds her B.A. in economics from the University of Virginia. She earned her M.P.A. from the University of Washington. Prior to serving in office, Rolfes worked as a Business Development Director for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).[3]
Committee assignments
2023-2024
Rolfes was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks Committee
- Ways & Means Committee, Chair
- Joint Employment Relations Committee
- Joint Legislative Unanticipated Revenue Oversight Committee
- Economic Development & International Relations Committee
- Pension Funding Council
2021-2022
Rolfes was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks Committee
- Ways & Means Committee, Chair
- Joint Employment Relations Committee
- Economic Development & International Relations Committee
2019-2020
Rolfes was assigned to the following committees:
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Early Learning & K-12 Education |
| • Ways & Means |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Rolfes served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Early Learning & K-12 Education |
| • Rules |
| • Ways & Means |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Rolfes served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Early Learning & K-12 Education |
| • Natural Resources & Parks |
| • Transportation |
2011-2012
Senate
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Rolfes served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Early Learning & K-12 Education, Vice chair |
| • Environment, Water & Energy, Vice chair |
| • Transportation |
House
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Rolfes served on the following committees while a member of the House:
| Washington committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| • Education Appropriations and Oversight |
| • Environment, Vice chair |
| • Transportation |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Rolfes served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| • Ecology and Parks, Vice chair |
| • Education Appropriations |
| • Environmental Health |
| • Transportation |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2020
See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Washington State Senate District 23
Incumbent Christine Rolfes defeated Pam Madden-Boyer in the general election for Washington State Senate District 23 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Christine Rolfes (D) | 63.9 | 55,170 |
| Pam Madden-Boyer (R) | 36.0 | 31,107 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 80 | ||
| Total votes: 86,357 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Washington State Senate District 23
Incumbent Christine Rolfes and Pam Madden-Boyer advanced from the primary for Washington State Senate District 23 on August 4, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Christine Rolfes (D) | 65.6 | 35,727 |
| ✔ | Pam Madden-Boyer (R) | 34.3 | 18,692 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 40 | ||
| Total votes: 54,459 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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2016
- See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Washington State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on August 2, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was May 20, 2016.
Incumbent Christine Rolfes ran unopposed in the Washington State Senate District 23 general election.[4]
| Washington State Senate, District 23 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic |  Christine Rolfes Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Washington Secretary of State | ||
Incumbent Christine Rolfes ran unopposed in the Washington State Senate District 23 top two primary.[5][6]
| Washington State Senate, District 23 Top Two Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Christine Rolfes Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Washington Secretary of State | ||
2012
- See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2012
Rolfes won re-election in the 2012 election for Washington State Senate District 23. Rolfes was unopposed in the blanket primary on August 7, 2012, and defeated Bret A. Treadwell (R) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[7][8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Christine Rolfes Incumbent |
65.1% | 43,305 | |
| Republican | Bret Treadwell | 34.9% | 23,235 | |
| Total Votes | 66,540 | |||
2010
Christine Rolfes was re-elected to the Washington House of Representatives District 23-Position 2. She was the top vote getter in the state's August 17, 2010, primary. She defeated Republican James Olson in the November 2, 2010, general election.
| Washington House of Representatives, District 23-Position 2 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Christine Rolfes (D)
|
32,351 | |||
| James Olson (R) | 23,812 | |||
| Washington House of Representatives, District 23-Position 2 Primary (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Christine Rolfes (D)
|
19,003 | 56.13% | ||
| James M. Olsen (R)
|
11,211 | 33.11% | ||
| Aaron Winters (R) | 3,642 | 10.76% | ||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Democrat Christine Rolfes won re-election to the Washington House of Representatives, District 23-Position 2 receiving 61.04% of the vote (39,130 votes), defeating Republican Mark Lowe who received 38.96% of the vote (24,973 votes).
| Washington House of Representatives, District 23-Position 2 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Christine Rolfes (D)
|
39,130 | 61.04% | ||
| Mark Lowe (R) | 24,973 | 38.96% | ||
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Christine Rolfes did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Washington scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023
In 2023, the Washington State Legislature was in session from January 9 to April 23.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on how they voted on firearm policies.
- Legislators are scored on whether they voted for or against WSLC's position.
2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Washington State Legislature was in session from January 10 to March 10.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Washington State Legislature was in session from January 11 to April 25.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Washington State Legislature was in session from January 13 to March 12.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Washington State Legislature was in session from January 14 through April 28.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Washington State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 8 through March 8.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Washington State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 9 through April 23. There were also special sessions. The first special session was April 24 through May 23. The second special session was May 23 through June 21. The third special session was June 21 through July 20.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the 64th Washington State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 11 through March 10. The legislature held a special session from March 11 to March 29 to pass a supplemental budget.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the 64th Washington State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 12 through April 24. The legislature was in special session from April 29 to May 28, May 29 to June 27 and June 28 to July 10.[9]
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the 63rd Washington State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 13 to March 14.[10]
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the 63rd Washington State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 14 to April 29.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the 62nd Washington State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 9 to March 8.[11]
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2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the 62nd Washington State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 10 through April 24.
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Missed Votes Report
- See also: Washington House of Representatives and Washington State Senate
In March 2014, Washington Votes, a legislative information website, released its annual Missed Votes Report, which provides detailed missed roll call votes on bills for every state legislator during the 2014 legislative session.[12] The 2014 regular session included a total of 515 votes in the State House and 396 in the State Senate, as well as 1,372 bills introduced total in the legislature and 237 bills passed. Out of all roll call votes, 90 individual legislators did not miss any votes. Three individual legislators missed more than 50 votes.[12] Rolfes missed 3 votes in a total of 1017 roll calls.
Freedom Foundation
The Freedom Foundation releases its Big Spender List annually. The Institute ranks all Washington legislators based on their total proposed tax and fee increases. To find each legislator’s total, the Institute adds up the 10-year tax increases or decreases, as estimated by Washington’s Office of Financial Management, of all bills sponsored or co-sponsored by that legislator.[13]
2012
Rolfes proposed a 10-year increase in state taxes and fees of $278.9 million, the 19th highest amount of proposed new taxes and fees of the 46 Washington state senators on the Freedom Foundation’s 2012 Big Spender List.
- See also: Washington Freedom Foundation Legislative Scorecard (2012)
The Freedom Foundation also issued its 2012 Informed Voter Guide for Washington State voters, including a legislative score card documenting how Washington State legislators voted upon bills the Foundation deemed important legislation. The legislation analyzed covered budget, taxation, and pension issues.[14] A 
sign indicates a bill more in line with the Foundation's stated goals, and a 
sign indicates a bill out of step with the Foundation's values. Here's how Rolfes voted on the specific pieces of legislation:
| 2012 Senate Scorecard - Christine Rolfes | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill #6636 (Balanced budget requirement)
|
Bill #5967 (Senate Republicans budget)
|
Bill #6582 (Local transportation tax increases)
|
Bill #6378 (Pension reforms)
| ||||||||
| Y | N | Y | N | ||||||||
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Rolfes and her husband, Leonard, have two children.
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ North Kitsap Herald, "Rolfes appointed to state Senate; field of House hopefuls grows," July 21, 2011
- ↑ ‘’Washington State Senate Democrats, “Rolfes to resign from Senate to serve as Kitsap Commissioner," June 20, 2023
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Christine Rolfes Biography," accessed April 14, 2014
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "General Election Results 2016," accessed December 2, 2016
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "2016 Candidates Who Have Filed," accessed May 23, 2016
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "August 2, 2016 Primary Results," accessed August 25, 2016
- ↑ C-SPAN, "AP Election Results - Washington State Senate," accessed August 7, 2012
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "2012 Primary Candidates," accessed July 16, 2012
- ↑ Multi State, "2015 State Legislative Session Dates," accessed July 13, 2015
- ↑ StateScape, "Session schedules," accessed July 23, 2014
- ↑ StateScape, "Session schedules," accessed July 23, 2014
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Washington Policy Center, "2014 Missed Votes Report for Legislators Released," March 18, 2014
- ↑ Freedom Foundation, "2012 Big Spender List," accessed April 10, 2014
- ↑ My Freedom Foundation, "Home," accessed June 18, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Washington State Senate District 23 2011-2023 |
Succeeded by Drew Hansen (D) |
