Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Hilary Franz
Hilary Franz (Democratic Party) was the Washington Commissioner of Public Lands. She assumed office on January 11, 2017. She left office on January 13, 2025.
Franz (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Washington's 6th Congressional District. She lost in the primary on August 6, 2024.
Franz also ran for election for Governor of Washington. She did not appear on the ballot for the primary on August 6, 2024.
Biography
Franz earned her bachelor's degree from Smith College and juris doctor from Northeastern University Law School. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she has resided in Washington for 20 years. As a private practice attorney, Franz specialized in land use and environmental law. She served as a City Council member for the City of Bainbridge Island from 2008 to 2011 and is the executive director of Futurewise, an advocacy group that describes itself as a "smart growth organization."[1]
Franz has served on numerous local boards in the Puget Sound area, including the Puget Sound Regional Council's Growth Management and Economic Development District Boards, the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Council, and the Puget Sound Transportation Futures Task force. She has also served on the board of the Washington Environmental Council, the Center for Environmental Law and Policy, Conservation Northwest, and Friends of the Farms.[2]
Political career
Washington Commissioner of Public Lands (2017 - 2025)
Franz was elected Washington commissioner of public lands on November 8, 2016. She assumed office on January 11, 2017.[3]
Elections
2024
U.S. House
See also: Washington's 6th Congressional District election, 2024
Washington's 6th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 6 top-two primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House Washington District 6
Emily Randall defeated Drew MacEwen in the general election for U.S. House Washington District 6 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Emily Randall (D) | 56.7 | 239,687 |
 | Drew MacEwen (R) | 43.1 | 182,182 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 753 | ||
| Total votes: 422,622 | |||
 = 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 U.S. House Washington District 6
Emily Randall and Drew MacEwen defeated Hilary Franz, Janis Clark, and J. Graham Ralston in the primary for U.S. House Washington District 6 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Emily Randall (D) | 34.3 | 80,249 |
| ✔ | | Drew MacEwen (R) | 30.2 | 70,513 |
 | Hilary Franz (D) | 24.7 | 57,824 | |
 | Janis Clark (R) | 7.6 | 17,665 | |
 | J. Graham Ralston (Independent Party) | 3.1 | 7,235 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 188 | ||
| Total votes: 233,674 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Kate Dean (D)
- Derek Kilmer (D)
- Elizabeth Kreiselmaier (R)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Franz in this election.
Governor
See also: Washington gubernatorial election, 2024
General election
General election for Governor of Washington
Bob Ferguson defeated Dave Reichert in the general election for Governor of Washington on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Bob Ferguson (D) | 55.5 | 2,143,368 |
 | Dave Reichert (R) | 44.3 | 1,709,818 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 8,202 | ||
| Total votes: 3,861,388 | |||
| = 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 Governor of Washington
The following candidates ran in the primary for Governor of Washington on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bob Ferguson (D) | 44.9 | 884,268 |
| ✔ | | Dave Reichert (R) | 27.5 | 541,533 |
 | Semi Bird (R) | 10.8 | 212,692 | |
 | Mark Mullet (D) | 6.0 | 119,048 | |
 | Leon Lawson (Trump Republican Party) | 1.8 | 35,971 | |
| Jim Daniel (R) | 1.5 | 29,907 | ||
| Cassondra Hanson (D) | 1.2 | 24,512 | ||
 | EL'ona Kearney (D) | 1.2 | 24,374 | |
 | Jennifer Hoover (R) | 0.8 | 15,692 | |
 | Andre Stackhouse (G) | 0.6 | 11,962 | |
 | Don Rivers (D) | 0.5 | 9,453 | |
| Martin Wheeler (R) | 0.4 | 7,676 | ||
 | Chaytan Inman (D) | 0.3 | 6,427 | |
 | Ricky Anthony (D) | 0.3 | 6,226 | |
| Jeff Curry (Independent Party) | 0.3 | 6,068 | ||
 | Fred Grant (D) | 0.3 | 5,503 | |
 | Brian Bogen (No party preference) | 0.2 | 4,530 | |
 | A.L. Brown (R) | 0.2 | 4,232 | |
 | Michael DePaula (L) | 0.2 | 3,957 | |
 | Rosetta Marshall-Williams (Independence Party) | 0.2 | 2,960 | |
 | Jim Clark (No party preference) | 0.1 | 2,355 | |
| Edward Cale (D) | 0.1 | 1,975 | ||
 | Alex Tsimerman (Standup-America Party) | 0.1 | 1,721 | |
 | Bill Hirt (R) | 0.1 | 1,720 | |
| Frank Dare (Independent Party) | 0.1 | 1,115 | ||
 | Alan Makayev (Nonsense Busters Party) | 0.1 | 1,106 | |
 | William Combs (Independent Party) | 0.1 | 1,042 | |
| Brad Mjelde (No party preference) | 0.1 | 991 | ||
 | Ambra Mason (Constitution Party) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Bobbie Samons (No party preference) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 1,347 | ||
| Total votes: 1,970,363 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Geoff Nelson (Constitution Party)
- Tony Tasmaly (R)
- Robert Arthur Ferguson (D)
- Kriss Schuler (R)
- Eric Nelson (No party preference)
- Robert Benjamin Ferguson (D)
- Reggie Grant (D)
- Laurel Khan (R)
- Daniel Miller (R)
- Hilary Franz (D)
- Raul Garcia (R)
- Tim Ford (R)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Franz in this election.
2020
See also: Washington Natural Resources Commissioner election election, 2020
General election
General election for Washington Commissioner of Public Lands
Incumbent Hilary Franz defeated Sue Kuehl Pederson in the general election for Washington Commissioner of Public Lands on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Hilary Franz (D) | 56.7 | 2,212,158 |
 | Sue Kuehl Pederson (R) | 43.2 | 1,686,320 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 3,799 | ||
| Total votes: 3,902,277 | |||
| = 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 Commissioner of Public Lands
The following candidates ran in the primary for Washington Commissioner of Public Lands on August 4, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Hilary Franz (D) | 51.1 | 1,211,310 |
| ✔ | | Sue Kuehl Pederson (R) | 23.4 | 554,147 |
| Cameron Whitney (R) | 8.3 | 197,610 | ||
| Stephen Sharon (R) | 7.6 | 179,714 | ||
| Frank Wallbrown (D) | 5.2 | 122,136 | ||
| Kelsey Reyes (L) | 3.3 | 77,407 | ||
| Maryam Abasbarzy (R) | 1.0 | 24,189 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 2,504 | ||
| Total votes: 2,369,017 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2016
- Main article: Washington Natural Resources Commissioner election, 2016
Franz filed to run as a Democratic candidate in the 2016 election for Washington commissioner of public lands. She competed with four other Democrats, one Republican, and one Libertarian in the August 2 top-two primary.[4] Franz placed second in the primary election and competed with Steve McLaughlin (R), who placed first, in the November general election.
General election results
Hilary Franz defeated Steve McLaughlin in the Washington commissioner of public lands election.
| Washington Natural Resources Commissioner, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Hilary Franz |
53.16% | 1,630,369 | |
| Republican | Steve McLaughlin | 46.84% | 1,436,817 | |
| Total Votes | 3,067,186 | |||
| Source: Washington Secretary of State | ||||
Primary election results
The following candidates ran in the Washington primary for natural resources commissioner.
| Washington primary for natural resources commissioner, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Steve McLaughlin |
37.95% | 494,416 | |
| Democratic | Hilary Franz |
22.80% | 297,074 | |
| Democratic | Dave Upthegrove | 14.12% | 183,976 | |
| Democratic | Mary Verner | 12.25% | 159,564 | |
| Libertarian | Steven Nielson | 4.84% | 63,056 | |
| Democratic | Karen Porterfield | 4.74% | 61,710 | |
| Democratic | John Stillings | 3.31% | 43,129 | |
| Total Votes | 1,302,925 | |||
| Source: Washington Secretary of State | ||||
Campaign finance
| Hilary Franz Campaign Finance Reports | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Total Contributions for Reporting Period | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | ||||
| To date | As of November 4, 2016 | $ | $475,543.17 | $(420,570.41) | $ | ||||
| Running totals | |||||||||
| $475,543.17 | $(420,570.41) | ||||||||
Campaign themes
2024
U.S. House
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Hilary Franz did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Franz’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
ABORTION RIGHTS The Supreme Court's extreme decision to overturn Roe v. Wade threatens the freedom, safety, and dignity of women across America.
Hilary is a champion for the middle class.
Hilary knows the importance of strong public schools and affordable higher education and vocational training.
As our State Lands Chief, Hilary is the only candidate in this race who is on the frontlines of a rapidly changing climate.
As the mother of three boys, Hilary knows the terror a parent feels when there is an active shooter alert at their children’s school.
We are in a housing crisis.
Hilary believes that every American should have access to high quality, affordable health care.
The assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 demonstrated the urgency of safeguarding our democracy and protecting the rights of all Americans.
Hilary is a fierce defender of Washington’s coast and Puget Sound.
Ensuring that every senior can retire with dignity is personal for Hilary.
Hilary knows we have a sacred duty to always be there for those who have served. [5] |
” |
| —Hilary Franz’s campaign website (2024)[6] | ||
Governor
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Hilary Franz did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Hilary Franz did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
Franz's campaign website outlines her priorities if elected, including:[7]
- Implementing wildfire prevention practices funded by the state legislature, including a focus on treating and preventing diseases that create fire risks
- Changing land management practices to protect the natural habitats of wildlife
- Leasing department-owned grazing lands to local food production companies
- Supporting clean energy initiatives
- Implementing outreach programs to public schools in order to improve environmental education
- Improving access to outdoor recreation
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.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate U.S. House Washington District 6 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Futurewise, accessed July 20, 2016
- ↑ Elect Hilary Franz, About Hilary," accessed July 20, 2016
- ↑ NW News Network, "Women, Gen Xers Prepare To Take Statewide Office In Olympia," December 21, 2016
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedcandlist - ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Hilary Franz for Congress, “On the Issues,” accessed July 21, 2024
- ↑ Elect Hilary Franz, "Issues," accessed July 20, 2016
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Peter Goldmark (D) |
Washington Commissioner of Public Lands 2017-2025 |
Succeeded by Dave Upthegrove (D) |
| Preceded by - |
Bainbridge Island City Council District 2 North Ward 2008-2011 |
Succeeded by - |
