Pat Sullivan

Patrick J. Sullivan was born on July 20, 1962, and is an American politician from Washington State. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented the 47th Legislative District in the Washington House of Representatives from 2005 to 2022. The 47th district includes parts of southeast King County, encompassing portions of Kent, Covington, and Auburn.

Sullivan has deep roots in his community, having lived in Covington for over two decades. He served as the first mayor of Covington and chaired the Economic Development Council. Beyond his elected roles, he has been active in community organizations, serving as co-president of the Covington Elementary PTA, on the Learning Improvement Team, and on the Kent Communities in Schools board.

Sullivan is married to Amy, an oncology nurse, and they have three daughters.

Education

Sullivan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington.

Political Experience

Sullivan served nearly two decades in the Washington House of Representatives, establishing himself as a key legislative leader. He held the position of House Majority Leader from 2010 to 2022, making him one of the most influential Democratic figures in the state legislature during this period.

His legislative priorities centered on building a strong economy through investments in education and workforce training, creating well-paying jobs with benefits, and increasing access to affordable healthcare. He served on the House Democrats' budget negotiation team since 2009 and played a crucial role in crafting state budgets during challenging periods, including the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among his notable achievements, Sullivan successfully championed the creation of a state student loan program that provided higher education loans to Washington undergraduate and graduate students at just one percent interest—significantly below federal and private loan rates.

Prior to his House service, Sullivan worked as a legislative assistant in Olympia and for the King County Council. He announced his retirement from the legislature at the end of his term in 2022. Following his departure, he joined the governor's office as Senior Policy Advisor for Labor beginning in October 2022.