PORT ANGELES — State Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton, has added his name to the list of candidates running for Washington’s 6th Congressional District.
MacEwen, who made his announcement Friday, is the first Republican to declare their candidacy for the seat, which has been held by a Democrat since 1965.
“After spending the past month listening to voters, prayer, and discussing with my family I am excited to announce I am running to represent the 6th Congressional District in the 2024 election,” MacEwen said in a news release. “I have a proven track record of winning elections, working on bipartisan solutions, and strongly advocating for my district at the state level. I will take this same approach to Congress.”
MacEwen was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 2012, capturing a seat not held by a Republican since 1932. In 2022, he was elected to the state Senate.
He is the ranking member on the Senate’s Energy, Environment, and Technology Committee and also serves on the Transportation, Labor and Commerce and Business and Financial Services committees.
He served for six years in the Navy Submarine Force and is a small business owner.
“Voters are concerned on many fronts,” MacEwen said. “Inflation has taken a toll on families, infrastructure issues, education issues, and a growing threat to our national security weighs heavily on the minds of voters. My time in the Navy, being a small business owner, and having represented citizens at the state level for over 11 years gives me a unique perspective and qualification to serve the citizens of the 6th (Congressional District). We need to rebuild our Navy, repair our infrastructure, ensure a strong economy, and provide every opportunity for our children to succeed.”
MacEwen lives in rural Mason County with his wife Danelle. They have two grown sons who served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
“I look forward to representing the hard-working families of the 6th Congressional District. I am all in,” MacEwen said.
The district covers the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas as well as part of Tacoma.
Several candidates have come forward to run for the Congressional seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor. Kilmer — who, since 2012, has served six terms — said in November he would not seek re-election in 2024.
The following day, state Commissioner of Public Lands Hillary Franz announced she was dropping out of the race for governor to run for the 6th Congressional District instead, with endorsements from Kilmer and more than a dozen other local leaders.
In the following weeks, state Sen. Emily Randall, D-Bremerton, and Jefferson County Commissioner Kate Dean, a Democrat from Port Townsend, also declared their candidacies.
Washington state will have an open primary election in August. The top two vote-getters will move on to the general election, regardless of party.
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Reporter Peter Segall can be reached at peter.segall@peninsuladailynews.com.