Jim Walsh (Washington politician)

Jim Walsh
Chair of the Washington Republican Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
August 12, 2023
Preceded byCaleb Heimlich
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 19th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 8, 2016
Preceded byJ. D. Rossetti
Personal details
Born (1964-05-06) May 6, 1964 (age 60)
Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationAmherst College (BA)
Signature

James W. Walsh[1] (born May 6, 1964)[2][3] is a Republican member of the Washington State House of Representatives.[4]

Walsh attended Amherst College, graduating cum laude in 1986. He formed a small publishing company in 1998 that he continues to operate today. He lives in Aberdeen where he and his wife raised their five children, four of whom still reside in the State. His wife was killed in a car crash on October 24, 2022, after she swerved into the logging truck’s lane on Highway 101.[5]

He was first elected to the state legislature in 2016. He represents the 19th Legislative District, including parts of Grays Harbor, Pacific, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, Thurston and Lewis counties.[6]

As a Representative, Walsh actively focuses on issues related to economic development, rural issues, culture wars and personal freedom. He has a very popular weekly legislative Q&A video series with over 26,000 followers.[7]

In October 2018, roughly two weeks before the elections, Walsh was sued by two constituents for banning them from his Facebook page. The constituents argued that Walsh's actions constituted a violation of their first amendment rights. Walsh countered that they were blocked from his page for defaming his supporters and specifically bashing on Christians, claiming he had warned them to stop their disruptive posts on multiple occasions before finally removing them.[8] The chief plaintiff in the lawsuit, Jeff Nichols of Montesano, was the outgoing chair of the 19th Legislative District Democrats at the time.[9]

In 2021, Walsh wore a yellow Star of David (the symbol that Nazis forced Jews to wear during the Holocaust), likening individuals who force others to get the vaccine to fascists in Nazi Germany. Walsh said, "In the current context, we’re all Jews." The Seattle-based Holocaust Center for Humanity said that Walsh trivialized the Holocaust and distorted history.[10] He subsequently apologized recognizing that this "gesture went too far."[11]

Representative Walsh currently serves on the following committees for the 2023-2024 session:

Civil Rights & Judiciary (Ranking Minority Member) Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning Rules Transportation [12]

After incumbent Washington Republican Party chair Caleb Heimlich announced on June 6, 2023, that he was stepping down, Walsh announced a run for the chairmanship.[13] On August 12, 2023, Walsh was elected at chairman of the state party.[14]

In May 2020, Representatives Walsh, Shea, and Kraft rallied alongside Patriot Prayer and Three Percenters in protest of the state’s covid policy & stay at home order. All three elected officials spoke at the rally, alongside Patriot Prayer leader and former US Senate candidate Joey Gibson.[15]

  1. ^ "Summary, Full Report Receipts and Expenditures, James W Walsh". Public Disclosure Commission, State of Washington. 2018-08-09. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  2. ^ "Legislative Manual 2021-2022" (PDF). Washington State Legislature.
  3. ^ "Jim Walsh's Biography". VoteSmart. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
  4. ^ "About Rep. Jim Walsh". Jim Walsh. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  5. ^ "https://www.chinookobserver.com/news/local/state-representatives-wife-dies-in-traffic-accident/article_1fbe4abc-5405-11ed-a525-b7f08d39e7fd.html
  6. ^ "November 8, 2016 General Election Results - Legislative District 19 - State Representative Pos. 1". results.vote.wa.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  7. ^ "Jim Walsh Videos". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  8. ^ Press, Rachel La Corte | Associated (2018-10-26). "Lawmaker sued for banning 2 constituents from Facebook page". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  9. ^ “19th Legislative District Democrats”. 19th LDDC. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  10. ^ "Washington lawmaker wears yellow Star of David, evoking Nazi persecution, to protest COVID vaccine mandates". The Seattle Times. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  11. ^ Cox, Chelsey. "Washington state lawmaker apologizes for wearing yellow star to protest covid restrictions". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  12. ^ "House of Representatives". Directory and committees. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  13. ^ Brunner, Jim (7 June 2023). "WA Republican chair Caleb Heimlich stepping down". The Daily News.
  14. ^ Times, Claire Withycombe / The Seattle (2023-08-13). "State Rep. Jim Walsh elected as state Republican Party chair". The Daily Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  15. ^ "Neo-Nazis, White Nationalists, and GOP State Reps Rally in Olympia, WA, Against Stay-At-Home Order". 9 May 2020.