Patricia Eileen Kuderer is an American politician and attorney currently serving as the 9th Insurance Commissioner of Washington, a position she has held since 2025. She is a member of the Democratic Party and previously represented the 48th Legislative District as a state senator from 2017 to 2025, serving as the district's first female state senator.

Kuderer has been a long-time community advocate in the Pacific Northwest, where she has lived for over two decades. She is known for her work on healthcare reform, voting rights, gun legislation, and housing affordability. Her career in public service began when the King County Council appointed her to the Washington House of Representatives in 2015, following which she was appointed to the state senate in 2017 after Cyrus Habib was elected lieutenant governor.

In the 2024 election, Kuderer ran for Insurance Commissioner and defeated Republican state Senator Phil Fortunato with 57% of the vote.

Education

Kuderer earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Minnesota and a Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law. She has argued before the Minnesota Appellate and State Supreme Courts multiple times throughout her legal career.

Political Experience

Legislative Service:
- Insurance Commissioner of Washington
- Washington State Senate, 48th District
- Chair of Housing Stability and Affordability Committee
- Assistant Majority Floor Leader
- Vice Chair of State Government, Tribal Relations and Elections Committee
- Washington State House of Representatives, 48th District

Notable Achievements:
- Sponsored legislation to create a public option for healthcare in Washington
- Advocated for protecting consumers from surprise medical billing and expanding access to mental healthcare
- Sponsored a 2019 bill requiring presidential candidates to release five years of tax returns to qualify for Washington state ballots, which was signed into law
- Championed a 2021 bill prohibiting open carry of weapons around the state Capitol and permitted public demonstrations
- Supported 2023 legislation to ban the import, manufacture, and sale of assault weapons

Professional Background:
Kuderer has extensive legal experience as a trial attorney in municipal and private practice, including work as a former prosecutor and city attorney. She currently serves as President and Attorney at Law for Kuderer Law Group and is Of Counsel at Mercer Island Law Group.