State Senator Phil Fortunato, a resident of Auburn, made a significant announcement on Monday. He declared his intention to campaign for the esteemed position of Washington’s next secretary of state.
In a news release announcing his candidacy, Fortunato emphasized the significance of the Secretary of State position in Washington, highlighting it as the second most important elected position. He expressed concern over the potential consequences of one party having complete control over the entire electoral process, from registrations to election legislation and ballot counting.
Democrats have a firm grip on the Washington State Legislature, with a commanding majority of 58-40 in the House of Representatives and 29-20 in the Senate. This control extends beyond the governorship, solidifying their influence in the state’s legislative branch.
During his time in the Legislature, Fortunato focused on legislation related to the voter registration process. In the 2023 session, he introduced Senate Bill 5140, which aimed to stress-test the state’s elections system for vulnerabilities. Similarly, in the 2020 session, he sponsored Senate Bill 6412, with the intention of enhancing the security of elections in Washington. However, both bills did not receive approval from the Legislature.
According to Fortunato, during his time on the Election Administration and Certification Board, he has been assured of the security of the registration process. However, when he presented problematic scenarios, he was only given reassurances that multiple or duplicate registrations would be identified. Fortunato believes that the registration process needs to be thoroughly tested, as motor voter laws and documentation loopholes create serious vulnerabilities that allow non-citizens to register and result in duplicate registrations. To instill confidence in the electorate, he suggests conducting comprehensive testing of the entire process.
Fortunato successfully ran for re-election to the state Senate and emerged victorious in the general election held in November 2022. His ongoing term is set to conclude in January 2027.
In 2016, Fortunato was elected to the state House of Representatives. However, he took on the role of filling the Senate vacancy left by Pam Roach before being officially sworn into the House. Therefore, he did not have the opportunity to serve in the House during that period.
Fortunato had previously held a position in the House from 1998 to 2000.
Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, a Democrat, was appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to step into the shoes of former Secretary of State Kim Wyman, a Republican. Wyman left office in November 2021 to assume a critical election-security position in President Joe Biden’s administration.
In November 2022, Hobbs emerged victorious in a special election against independent candidate Julie Anderson. This election was held to occupy the remaining two years of Wyman’s originally elected four-year term.
Hobbs achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Democrat to secure the office in over six decades.
The primary election in Washington is scheduled for August 6th, while the general election will take place on November 5th.
