State senator Doug Ericksen dies at 52

Washington state senator Doug Ericksen, a longtime conservative member in the state Legislature representing Whatcom County, died on December 17. He was 52.

Although his cause of death has not been confirmed, Ericksen had been battling Covid-19 after testing positive mid-November in El Salvador.

Ericksen is survived by his wife, Tasha Ericksen, and their two daughters, Addi and Elsa. He was born and raised in Whatcom County, attending Cornell University for his bachelor’s degree and Western Washington University for his master’s degree in political science and environmental policy. He was elected to the state house of representatives in 1998 and served six terms before being elected to the state senate in 2010, serving the 42nd Legislative District 22 years total.

“We are heartbroken to share that our husband and father passed away,” the Ericksen family wrote in a statement. “Please keep our family in your prayers and thank you for continuing to respect our privacy in this extremely difficult time.”

Ericksen served as a ranking member on the environment, energy and technology committee in the state senate, as well as the higher education and workforce development committee. The Ferndale senator was known for his fierce pushback on the state’s Covid-19 restrictions and concern for families impacted by the pandemic mandates.

In 2017, Ericksen served as the interim director of communications at the Environmental Protection Agency under former President Donald Trump.

“Doug was one of the giants of the Washington legislature, a fearless voice for the principles he and his constituents held dear,” state senator Jeff Wilson (R-Longview) said in a statement. “Protection of individual rights and freedoms, preserving the people’s ability to influence their government, and maintaining good-paying jobs beyond the Seattle city limits. He delighted in calling state agencies and elected officials to account whenever they overstepped their bounds, as they so often do.”

Wilson lauded Ericksen for the pragmatic approach he took to solving state issues, from expanding hatcheries on the Puget Sound to help declining orca populations to oil-train safety regulations.

Ericksen’s funeral was scheduled for 12 p.m. December 29 at Christ the King Church in Bellingham. Governor Jay Inslee ordered the state and U.S. flags to fly at half-staff during Ericksen’s funeral.

“Trudi and I send our deep condolences to senator Doug Ericksen’s family, friends and colleagues,” Inslee wrote in a statement on Twitter. “Our hearts are with them.”

The Whatcom County Republican Party is expected to provide a list of nominees for Ericksen’s position by Friday, December 31 for Whatcom County Council to approve. The council has a special meeting set Tuesday, January 4 to vote on Ericksen’s replacement before Washington’s legislative session convenes January 10.