Washington state Democrats look at imposing income tax on higher earners
October 30, 2025
Washington State Standard
Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, said Wednesday it’s too early to know if the income tax concept solidifies into legislation in the 2026 session that begins Jan. 12.
“We’ve got a lot of things being discussed and researched. I am aware of at least four or five different ideas being evaluated in various ways,” he said. “It is not the case that anybody has settled on any ideas to the point that anyone is going to introduce something.”
Pedersen’s 43rd Legislative District is one of the state’s most progressive. He said Washington must find ways to spread the tax burden “more fairly” over all income brackets.
“If the wealth tax is not the answer. What are other things we can consider?” Pedersen said.
WA lawmakers condemn political violence as attack on democratic process
June 25, 2025
Washington State Standard
“There is no doubt that this kind of political violence stokes panic and distrust in our system of democracy. We must stand united against it, no matter our party allegiance or personal beliefs,” said House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, House Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, and Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia.
Washington takes ‘historic’ step toward full funding for special education
April 16, 2025
Washington State Standard
Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, and Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, are the bill’s co-sponsors.
Pedersen, prior to the Senate vote, acknowledged the state’s tight budget situation this year but said Washington’s Constitution “is very clear that funding basic education is our paramount duty.”
“The fact that it is expensive doesn’t change that on the ground we’ve got kids with special needs who are in our charge and are relying on us to make sure that they get the education to which they’re entitled,” he said.
Top Washington lawmakers promise to protect trans kids
February 3, 2025
KPTV
On Monday, Washington Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen and Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins issued a joint statement vowing to fight back against federal executive orders “attacking transgender youth:”
“As parents, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and the elected leaders of the Washington State Senate and House of Representatives, we will protect transgender youth. These attacks from the new federal administration are alarming, but they do not change Washington state law,” wrote Jinkins and Pedersen.
“We have established protections at the state level to ensure young people can access life-saving gender-affirming care. We have strong nondiscrimination laws that protect our young people at school, and we are working to clarify and strengthen those laws this session.”
Love, Family, and Leadership: Sen. Jamie Pedersen on marriage, parenthood, and fighting for LGBTQ+ rights
January 31, 2025
Seattle Gay News
Washington state Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D-43) is a seasoned politician who, over the last two decades of his career, has been diligently securing legislative wins for the Queer community. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2006 and then joined the state Senate in 2013. Pedersen is also, above all, a family man who deeply loves his husband Eric and their four sons.
To start off the 2025 state legislative session, he sat down with the SGN to share his breadth of knowledge and experience as a Gay legislator.
Democrats in WA Legislature say they want to avoid ‘chaos machine’ in D.C.
January 21, 2025
Washington State Standard
“We have our own job to do,” Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, said Tuesday. “We’re, I think, not going to allow ourselves to be distracted by the chaos machine in Washington, D.C. We’re going to stay focused on meeting the needs of folks in Washington.”
Still, Pedersen acknowledged there could be overlap. As an example, he pointed to legislation discussed in committee on Tuesday that is geared toward protecting transgender students.
Seattle senator Pedersen to become new WA Senate majority leader
November 11, 2024
Washington State Standard
“We are excited to see our majority grow,” Pedersen said in a statement Monday. “I am confident this new energy and passion will help Senate Democrats continue to put people first and tackle the issues Washingtonians care about most – affordable housing, great public schools, behavioral health, gun violence prevention, climate change, and more.”
Washington Senate approves police accountability bill
February 27, 2021
KIRO7
Sponsored by Sen. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, chair of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, SB 5051 is one of a slew of police accountability measures pending in the Legislature, spurred by a year of national protests against police brutality and racial injustice.
Pedersen, before the vote, said the bill is meant “to restore public confidence that members of our law enforcement and correctional officer professions, who are given the power of a badge and a gun to enforce the law, are appropriately exercising those powers.”
