Jamie Pedersen is a Democrat representing Washington's 43rd Legislative District . Born September 9, he grew up in Puyallup, Washington, with Norwegian great-grandparents who homesteaded in Washington Territory in the 1880s. He lives on Capitol Hill with his husband, Eric Pedersen , and their four sons, all attending Seattle Public Schools. Notable achievements include leading passage of marriage equality and parentage rights as House Judiciary Committee Chair and Senate Law & Justice Committee Chair; organizing court challenges overturning voter initiatives on tax majorities; championing public school funding, housing affordability, environmental protection, gun safety, LGBTQ+ and immigrant civil rights, and transit expansion; and serving as chair of Lambda Legal . In November 2024, he was elected Senate Majority Leader after three years as Majority Floor Leader. He is also Vice President and General Counsel at McKinstry Co. and an Eagle Scout.

Education and Political Experience

Education:

- JD, Yale Law School

- BA in American Studies and Soviet/Eastern European Studies, Yale University

- Puyallup High School graduate; spent a year in Russia collecting oral histories of Soviet Afghan war veterans

Political Experience:

- Washington State Senate since December 2013 ; Senate Majority Leader ; Majority Floor Leader ; chairs/former chair: Ways & Means, Rules, Law & Justice Committees

- Washington House of Representatives ; House Judiciary Committee Chair ; served on Appropriations, Higher Education, Health Care & Wellness, Business & Financial Services, and Capital Budget Committees

- Commissioner, National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws

- Plaintiff in League of Education Voters v. State of Washington

- Professional legal roles: Law Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals ; Partner/Of Counsel, K&L Gates