Washington Elections Update - Implications for LTC
Please plan to join us on Thursday, November 12 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. for an overview of the Washington elections results and the implications for long term care. COVID0-19 has had a dramatic impact on long term care and on the state’s economic well-being. With a projected state operating budget deficit of over $4 billion, the Governor’s Office of Financial Management has ordered all state agencies to submit recommendations to achieve an overall reduction of 15 percent. For LTC, the DSHS proposal would cut skilled nursing facility Medicaid living funding by over $440 million, and assisted living Medicaid funding by over $80 million.

The stakes are high—and providers must be prepared to effectively advocate with their legislators, who have ultimate responsibility for passing a state operating budget. It is up to each of us to ensure our legislators protect funding and care for Washington citizens requiring care. During this session, the WHCA Government Relations team will brief members about election results, and will provide you with grassroots tools and resources to make it easy to immediately brief new and returning legislators about the challenges faced by skilled nursing and assisted living providers. Our goal is to provide you with information and resources to effectively advocate with elected officials.

Please click here to register. If you have any trouble please email paulraines@whca.org.
Election 2020
The 2020 election has concluded and here are some of the key take always for Washington State. Click here for the election results.

  • Washington had historic voter turnout. At the time of this writing, over 83% of all registered voters had turned in their ballot.

  • Governor Jay Inslee won a rare third term as Governor, defeating Republican Loren Culp with 57% of the vote.
 
  • In contests for the State Legislature, Democrats are on track for a net gain of one seat in the State Senate and two seats in the State House.

  • Should the results from Election Day hold, Democrats would control the State Senate by a 29-20 seat majority and a 59-39 seat majority in the State House.

Due to the nature of voting by mail, there are some races that are too close to call. While winners will most likely be clear in the next few days, the Secretary of State has until December 3, 2020, to certify the November election results.
New Faces in the Legislature
There will be a new Legislature in Olympia this upcoming January. Here are some of the newly-elected Representatives. If you live or your facility operates in one of these legislative districts, now is the time to establish a relationship with your newly-elected legislator. Please feel free to use these email templates (AL Letter of Introduction and SNF Letter of Introduction) for when you reach out to them.

  • Senator Jim McCune - 2nd Legislative District, Republican

  • Representative Rob Chase - 4th Legislative District, Republican

  • Representative David Hackney - 11th Legislative District, Democrat

  • Senator Perry Dozier - 16th Legislative District, Republican

  • Representative Mark Klicker - 16th Legislative District, Republican

  • Senator Jeff Wilson - 19th Legislative District, Republican

  • Representative Joel McEntire - 19th Legislative District, Republican

  • Representative Peter Abbarno - 20th Legislative District, Republican

  • Representative Jessica Bateman - 22nd Legislative District, Democrat
  • Jessica Bateman previously worked for WHCA as an intern while completing her master’s degree

  • Representative Tarra Simmons - 23rd Legislative District, Democrat

  • Representative Cyndy Jacobsen - 25th Legislative District, Republican

  • Representative Jamila Taylor - 30th Legislative District, Democrat

  • Representative Eric Robertson - 31st Legislative District, Republican

  • Representative Liz Berry - 36th Legislative District, Democrat


  • Representative April Berg - 44th Legislative District, Democrat

These races are too close to call at the time of writing this: Senator Mark Mullet (D), Senator Ron Muzzall (R), Representative Vicki Kraft (R), Senator Steve O'Ban (R), and Representative Luanne Van Werven (R).
We will continue to post updates to WHCA's grassroots activities. If you have questions or need additional information, please don't hesitate to email me or call.
Associate Director for Governmental Relations
Washington Health Care Association
Tel (800) 562-6170, Extension 108