Republican Sen. Brian Dansel, Republic, announced his resignation Tuesday as he accepted a position as special assistant to the U.S.
Sen. Brian Dansel. Courtesy of the Washington Legislature.
Secretary of Agriculture, according to a press release from the Washington State Senate Majority Coalition Caucus.
The resignation is effective immediately, and comes as another active GOP state senator, Sen. Doug Ericksen, Ferndale, announced his own plan to work with the Trump administration. Ericksen said he plans to stay on as a state senator, according to a report in The Seattle Times.
In a statement, Dansel said he expected he could do more work for his district in his new federal position.
“It has been the honor of my life to serve as your senator, and this decision was not an easy one for me,” Dansel said in his statement. “Words cannot express the gratitude my family and I feel toward the citizens of this district, and I didn’t take the decision lightly.”
The Democrats in the senate sent out their own release in response to the resignation and pointed out with Dansel gone, there’s currently not a majority in the Senate.
In a statement Sharon Nelson, Senate Democratic leader, suggested Republicans have cancelled hearings and stalled on votes due to GOP senators prioritizing federal opportunities.
“There is no majority party in the Senate right now. At this point in time, Republican leadership can work across the aisle to solve our education funding crisis, or they can continue to use the waiting game as a way to keep the Senate in a state of gridlock.” she said in the statement. “We have not taken any votes on bills since session started, and we have had numerous committee hearings cancelled because their members are pursuing job opportunities in D.C. with the Trump Administration.”
Commissioners from the five counties that make up Dansel’s district are now set to appoint a replacement for the senator until the next general election. Republican precinct committee officers will chose three candidates for commissioners to chose from, according to a release sent out by the Senate MCC.
According to the release:
“The Majority Coalition Caucus has been in contact with the Washington State Republican Party and they will strive to have precinct committee officers meet by the end of next week with the goal of having the county commissioners meet by Monday, Feb. 6, to select the new Senator. If this can be accelerated, they will attempt to do so.”
Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, Senate Majority Leader, issued a statement following Dansel’s resignation:
“The 7th Legislative District which Sen. Dansel represents is heavily affected by agriculture policies so we know it’s a policy area that he cares deeply about. It’s good to see Washington state getting a seat at the table in the new administration,” he said in the statement. “I’m confident that our caucus will remain strong and this should have no effect on the Senate’s ability to pass an education funding plan or a budget.”
Erin Fenner: erin@washingtonstatewire.com, @erinfenner
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