Sen. Judy Warnick announced today that she will not seek re-election to the Washington State Senate at the conclusion of her current term. A steadfast advocate for rural Washington and a respected leader in the Legislature, Warnick will continue to serve the 13th Legislative District until her term officially concludes in January 2027.

“Serving the people of the 13th Legislative District has been the greatest honor of my professional life,” said Warnick, R-Moses Lake. “I grew up on a dairy farm and ran my own small business, so I came to Olympia with a simple goal: to ensure that the hardworking families, farmers, and ranchers of Central Washington had a seat at the table. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together to protect our water rights, support our small businesses, and empower the next generation of leaders.”

First elected to the House of Representatives in December of 2006 and later to the Senate in 2015, Warnick’s legislative career has been defined by her commitment to the agricultural community and the economic vitality of rural districts. Her peers recognized her leadership early on, electing her as vice chair of the Senate Republican Caucus in 2017, and as chair of the Senate Republican Caucus in 2021.

Beyond agriculture, Warnick has been a champion for youth and women’s sports, regional economic development, and community involvement. Honored as a “Woman of Achievement” and “Champion of Youth” by community organizations during her legislative career, she has been a leading voice for fairness and safety in girls’ sports, most recently leading a legislative listening session on the people’s initiative to the legislature on protecting the safety and privacy of young female athletes.

While she is looking toward the next chapter of her life, Warnick emphasized that her work in the Senate is far from over.

“I have always believed the most important job of a lawmaker is to listen. The people deserve to be heard, and that philosophy has been the basis for every vote I’ve cast in both the House and the Senate,” Warnick continued. “There is still much to be done, and I intend to work just as hard as I did on my first day until my very last day in office to ensure our communities remain a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”

Warnick’s collaborative approach and principled leadership have earned her the respect of colleagues on both sides of the aisle. As she prepares to serve out the remainder of her term, she remains focused on advancing policies related to public safety, water security, and rural economic opportunity.

As a member of the Ways and Means and Higher Education and Workforce Development committees, she has focused on fighting new and higher taxes and promoting policies to keep Washington’s economy competitive.

Her efforts have earned her numerous accolades, including “Legislator of the Year” honors from the Association of Washington Business, the Cattle Producers of Washington, and the Washington State Potato Commission, as well as the Guardian of Small Business award from the National Federation of Independent Business. She also received the Hall of Fame award from the Washington State Dairy Federation in March 2026.