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Hilary Franz

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Hilary Franz
Image of Hilary Franz
Prior offices
Bainbridge Island City Council District 2 North Ward

Washington Commissioner of Public Lands
Successor: Dave Upthegrove
Predecessor: Peter Goldmark

Elections and appointments
Last election

August 6, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Smith College

Law

Northeastern University School of Law

Personal
Profession
Attorney
Contact

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

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this 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
Image of Emily Randall
Emily Randall (D)
 
56.7
 
239,687
Image of Drew MacEwen
Drew MacEwen (R)
 
43.1
 
182,182
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
753

Total votes: 422,622
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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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
Image of Emily Randall
Emily Randall (D)
 
34.3
 
80,249
Image of Drew MacEwen
Drew MacEwen (R)
 
30.2
 
70,513
Image of Hilary Franz
Hilary Franz (D)
 
24.7
 
57,824
Image of Janis Clark
Janis Clark (R)
 
7.6
 
17,665
Image of J. Graham Ralston
J. Graham Ralston (Independent Party) Candidate Connection
 
3.1
 
7,235
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
188

Total votes: 233,674
Candidate Connection = 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

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
Image of Bob Ferguson
Bob Ferguson (D)
 
55.5
 
2,143,368
Image of Dave Reichert
Dave Reichert (R) Candidate Connection
 
44.3
 
1,709,818
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
8,202

Total votes: 3,861,388
Candidate Connection = 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.

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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
Image of Bob Ferguson
Bob Ferguson (D)
 
44.9
 
884,268
Image of Dave Reichert
Dave Reichert (R) Candidate Connection
 
27.5
 
541,533
Image of Semi Bird
Semi Bird (R) Candidate Connection
 
10.8
 
212,692
Image of Mark Mullet
Mark Mullet (D) Candidate Connection
 
6.0
 
119,048
Image of Leon Lawson
Leon Lawson (Trump Republican Party) Candidate Connection
 
1.8
 
35,971
Jim Daniel (R)
 
1.5
 
29,907
Cassondra Hanson (D)
 
1.2
 
24,512
Image of EL'ona Kearney
EL'ona Kearney (D) Candidate Connection
 
1.2
 
24,374
Image of Jennifer Hoover
Jennifer Hoover (R) Candidate Connection
 
0.8
 
15,692
Image of Andre Stackhouse
Andre Stackhouse (G) Candidate Connection
 
0.6
 
11,962
Image of Don Rivers
Don Rivers (D) Candidate Connection
 
0.5
 
9,453
Martin Wheeler (R)
 
0.4
 
7,676
Image of Chaytan Inman
Chaytan Inman (D) Candidate Connection
 
0.3
 
6,427
Image of Ricky Anthony
Ricky Anthony (D) Candidate Connection
 
0.3
 
6,226
Jeff Curry (Independent Party)
 
0.3
 
6,068
Image of Fred Grant
Fred Grant (D) Candidate Connection
 
0.3
 
5,503
Image of Brian Bogen
Brian Bogen (No party preference) Candidate Connection
 
0.2
 
4,530
Image of A.L. Brown
A.L. Brown (R)
 
0.2
 
4,232
Image of Michael DePaula
Michael DePaula (L) Candidate Connection
 
0.2
 
3,957
Image of Rosetta Marshall-Williams
Rosetta Marshall-Williams (Independence Party) Candidate Connection
 
0.2
 
2,960
Image of Jim Clark
Jim Clark (No party preference) Candidate Connection
 
0.1
 
2,355
Edward Cale (D) Candidate Connection
 
0.1
 
1,975
Image of Alex Tsimerman
Alex Tsimerman (Standup-America Party)
 
0.1
 
1,721
Image of Bill Hirt
Bill Hirt (R)
 
0.1
 
1,720
Frank Dare (Independent Party)
 
0.1
 
1,115
Image of Alan Makayev
Alan Makayev (Nonsense Busters Party) Candidate Connection
 
0.1
 
1,106
Image of William Combs
William Combs (Independent Party) Candidate Connection
 
0.1
 
1,042
Brad Mjelde (No party preference)
 
0.1
 
991
Image of Ambra Mason
Ambra Mason (Constitution Party) (Write-in) Candidate Connection
 
0.0
 
0
Bobbie Samons (No party preference) (Write-in) Candidate Connection
 
0.0
 
0
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
1,347

Total votes: 1,970,363
Candidate Connection = 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.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

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
Image of Hilary Franz
Hilary Franz (D)
 
56.7
 
2,212,158
Image of Sue Kuehl Pederson
Sue Kuehl Pederson (R)
 
43.2
 
1,686,320
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
3,799

Total votes: 3,902,277
Candidate Connection = 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.

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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
Image of Hilary Franz
Hilary Franz (D)
 
51.1
 
1,211,310
Image of Sue Kuehl Pederson
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 Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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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 Green check mark transparent.png 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 Green check mark transparent.png Steve McLaughlin 37.95% 494,416
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png 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

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.


ECONOMY & JOBS

Hilary is a champion for the middle class.


EDUCATION

Hilary knows the importance of strong public schools and affordable higher education and vocational training.


ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE

As our State Lands Chief, Hilary is the only candidate in this race who is on the frontlines of a rapidly changing climate.


GUN VIOLENCE

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.


HOUSING

We are in a housing crisis.


HEALTH CARE

Hilary believes that every American should have access to high quality, affordable health care.


PROTECTING DEMOCRACY

The assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 demonstrated the urgency of safeguarding our democracy and protecting the rights of all Americans.


PROTECTING OUR WATERS

Hilary is a fierce defender of Washington’s coast and Puget Sound.


RETIREMENT SECURITY

Ensuring that every senior can retire with dignity is personal for Hilary.


SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS & MILITARY FAMILIES

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.


Hilary Franz campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* U.S. House Washington District 6Lost primary$1,531,302 $1,531,302
Grand total$1,531,302 $1,531,302
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

See also


External links

Footnotes

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
-


Senators
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
Democratic Party (10)
Republican Party (2)