Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Doug Ericksen
Doug Ericksen (Republican Party) was a member of the Washington State Senate, representing District 42. He assumed office in 2011. He left office on December 17, 2021.
Ericksen (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Washington State Senate to represent District 42. He won in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Ericksen passed away on December 17, 2021.[1]
Ericksen represented District 42-Position 1 in the Washington House of Representatives for 12 years. Ericksen was a former State Senate Minority Whip. During his tenure in the State House, he served as the Minority Floor Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, and Republican Floor Leader.
Biography
Erickson held a B.A. in government from Cornell University and an M.A. in political science and environmental policy from Western Washington University.[2] Ericksen worked in the public sector for most of his career. He was a former policy analyst for the Washington State Senate and the Senate Republican Caucus. He also worked as a Legislative Affairs Coordinator for the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and as campaign manager for Ann Anderson's 1996 run for lieutenant governor.
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2021-2022
Ericksen was assigned to the following committees:
- Environment, Energy & Technology Committee, Ranking member
- Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee
- Joint Energy Supply & Energy Conservation Committee
2019-2020
Ericksen was assigned to the following committees:
- Environment, Energy & Technology Committee, Ranking Member
- Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee
- Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Energy, Environment & Telecommunications, Chair |
| • Financial Institutions & Insurance, Vice chair |
| • Rules |
| • Transportation |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Ericksen served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Energy, Environment & Telecommunications, Chair |
| • Rules |
| • Trade & Economic Development |
| • Transportation |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Ericksen served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Energy, Environment & Telecommunications, Chair |
| • Health Care |
| • Rules |
| • Transportation |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Ericksen served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Higher Education & Workforce Development |
| • Human Services & Corrections |
| • 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
2018
See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Washington State Senate District 42
Incumbent Doug Ericksen defeated Pinky Vargas in the general election for Washington State Senate District 42 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Doug Ericksen (R) | 50.0 | 36,341 |
Pinky Vargas (D)  | 50.0 | 36,295 | ||
| Total votes: 72,636 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| 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 State Senate District 42
Incumbent Doug Ericksen and Pinky Vargas defeated Tim Ballew II in the primary for Washington State Senate District 42 on August 7, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Doug Ericksen (R) | 45.9 | 19,177 |
| ✔ | Pinky Vargas (D) | 28.9 | 12,067 | |
| Tim Ballew II (D) | 25.3 | 10,578 | ||
| Total votes: 41,822 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| 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. | ||||
2014
- See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for 25 districts in the Washington State Senate took place in 2014. A blanket primary election took place on August 5, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 17, 2014. Seth Fleetwood (D) and incumbent Doug Ericksen (R) were unopposed in the primary. Fleetwood was defeated by Ericksen in the general election.[3][4][5]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Doug Ericksen Incumbent |
58.7% | 30,209 | |
| Democratic | Seth Fleetwood | 41.3% | 21,244 | |
| Total Votes | 51,453 | |||
2010
- See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2010
Ericksen did not run for re-election to the state house -- instead, Ericksen ran for election to the Washington State Senate District 42 seat. He ran unopposed in the primary on August 17, 2010. He defeated Pat Jerns (D) in the general election on November 2, 2010.
| Washington State Senate, District 42 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Doug Ericksen (R)
|
36,293 | 59.90% | ||
| Pat Jerns (D) | 24,298 | 40.10% | ||
| Washington State Senate, District 42 Primary (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Doug Ericksen (R)
|
21,822 | 61.49% | ||
| Pat Jerns (D)
|
13,669 | 38.51% | ||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Republican Doug Ericksen won re-election to the Washington House of Representatives, District 42-Position 1 receiving 58.43% of the vote (39,155 votes), defeating Democrat Mark Flanders who received 41.57% of the vote (27,855 votes).
| Washington House of Representatives, District 42-Position 1 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Doug Ericksen (R)
|
39,155 | 58.43% | ||
| Mark Flanders (D) | 27,855 | 41.57% | ||
Issues
Pension reform
In January 2014, Ericksen abandoned a pension reform bill that would have given $10,000 per worker to move from a taxpayer-guaranteed defined-benefit pension plan to a 401(k) plan, which is also called a defined-contribution plan. Ericksen’s plan came after Boeing, the aeronautical company with operations in Washington, negotiated a switch to a 401(k) retirement plan for its workers. The Ericksen plan would have ended guaranteed pensions for new hires and enroll them in the new plan. Veteran workers would have to option to choose between the two different plans. The bill was opposed and blocked by State Senate Democrats that rejected a move from a government plan to a 401(k) plan. [6]
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.
2020
In 2020, the Washington State Legislature was in session from January 13 to March 12.
- Legislators are scored based on their votes on legislation supported by the organization.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the state’s business community.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to home building industry issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on how they voted on firearm policies.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on whether they voted for or against WSLC's position.
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2019, the Washington State Legislature was in session from January 14 through April 28.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2018, the Washington State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 8 through March 8.
|
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
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.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
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.
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
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.[7]
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the 63rd Washington State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 13 to March 14.[8]
|
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the 63rd Washington State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 14 to April 29.
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the 62nd Washington State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 9 to March 8.[9]
|
2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2011, the 62nd Washington State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 10 through April 24.
|
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.[10] 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.[10] Ericksen missed 10 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.[11]
2012
Ericksen proposed a 10-year increase in state taxes and fees of $7.2 million, the 35th 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.[12] 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 Ericksen voted on the specific pieces of legislation:
| 2012 Senate Scorecard - Doug Ericksen | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill #6636 (Balanced budget requirement)
|
Bill #5967 (Senate Republicans budget)
|
Bill #6582 (Local transportation tax increases)
|
Bill #6378 (Pension reforms)
| ||||||||
| Y | Y | N | Y | ||||||||
Noteworthy events
|
|---|
| Coronavirus pandemic |
| Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more.
|
The Seattle Times reported on November 12, 2021, that Ericksen tested positive for COVID-19.[13]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Ericksen and his wife, Tasha, lived in Ferndale. They had two daughters.
See also
- Washington State Legislature
- Washington State Senate
- State legislative elections, 2018
- Washington State Senate elections, 2018
- Washington State Senate Committees
- Washington Joint Committees
- Washington State Senate District 42
- Doug Ericksen recall, Washington State Senate (2017)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The Seattle Times, "Washington state Sen. Doug Ericksen dies after battle with COVID," December 18, 2021
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed April 14, 2014
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "2014 Candidates Who Have Filed," accessed May 20, 2014
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "August 5, 2014, Official Primary Results," accessed August 5, 2014
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Official general election results, 2014," accessed December 2, 2014
- ↑ WatchDog.org, "Democratic opposition kills aggressive retirement reform in Washington state," accessed February 20, 2014
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 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
- ↑ The Seattle Times, "Washington Sen. Doug Ericksen tests positive for COVID-19 while in El Salvador, seeks medical help from lawmakers," November 12, 2021
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Pat Jerns (D) |
Washington State Senate District 42 2011–2021 |
Succeeded by Simon Sefzik (R) |
| Preceded by - |
Washington House of Representatives District 42-Position 1 1998–2010 |
Succeeded by Jason Overstreet (R) |
