Bill Ramos

Bill Ramos
Member of the Washington Senate from the 5th district
State Senator
Incumbent
Assumed office January 13, 2025
Preceded by	Mark Mullet
Majority	51.9%
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 's 5th district
In office January 14, 2019 – January 13, 2025 Serving with Lisa Callan
Preceded by	Jay Rodne
Succeeded by	Victoria Hunt
Personal details
Born	Bill George Ramos (1956-04-06) April 6, 1956 (age 68)
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Sarah Perry
Alma mater	Humboldt University (BS)
Signature

Bill George Ramos (born April 6, 1956) is an American politician serving as a Democratic member of the Washington State Senate representing the state's 5th district. He won election to the State Senate in November 2024, defeating Republican Chad Magendanz with 51.9% of the vote.[1] He previously served in the Washington State House of Representatives representing the 5th district from 2019 to 2025. Before his legislative career, Ramos was a member of the Issaquah City Council from 2016 to 2018.

Career

Prior to serving in the Washington State House of Representatives, Ramos was a member of the Issaquah City Council from 2016 to 2018.[2]

Ramos won election to the State House on November 6, 2018 from the platform of the Democratic Party. He secured fifty-two percent of the vote while his closest rival Republican Chad Magendanz secured forty-eight percent.[3]

Ramos won re-election to the State House on November 3, 2020.[4]

After Mark Mullet's announcement that he was running for governor, Ramos announced that he would seek Mullet's Senate seat.[5]

Notable legislation

Ramos voted in favor of HB 1589,[6] which is described as supporting Washington's clean energy economy and transitioning to a clean, affordable, and reliable energy future by prohibiting the expansion of natural gas services and other regulations on natural gas companies.[7]

Ramos voted in favor of and sponsored HB 1054,[8] which is described as establishing requirements for tactics and equipment used by peace officers by adding restrictions on vehicular pursuits, as well as prohibiting law enforcement from using chokeholds, the deployment of tear gas, or unleashed police dogs in the arrest or apprehension of suspects.[9]

In 2024 Ramos voted in favor of HB 2065, which reduced currently incarcerated individuals' sentences by a calculated amount, including violent offenders.[10]

In 2024 Ramos voted in favor of HB 1189, which if passed, would make sexual offenders and those convicted of homicide eligible for probation and reduced sentences.[11][12]

References

1. "Washington State Senate District 5 election, 2024". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
2. "Elect Bill Ramos, House of Representatives, LD 5". washingtonea.org. Washington Education Association. 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
3. "Washington Election Results - Election Results 2018 - The New York Times". The New York Times. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
4. Kunkler, Aaron (3 November 2020). "Democrats again secure all three state seats in 5th Legislative District races". valleyrecord.com. Snoqualmie Valley Record. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
5. Demkovich, Laurel (1 June 2023). "House lawmaker announces run for Mullet's Senate seat". Washington State Standard.
6. "HB 1589 - 2023-24 Supporting Washington's clean energy economy and transitioning to a clean and reliable energy future". leg.wa.gov.
7. "Environment & Energy Committee" (PDF). leg.wa.gov.
8. "HB 1054 - 2021-22 Establishing requirements for tactics and equipment used by peace officers". leg.wa.gov.
9. "Public Safety Committee" (PDF). leg.wa.gov.
10. https://fastdemocracy.com/bill-search/wa/2023-2024/bills/WAB00020862/#votes
11. https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1189&Year=2023&Initiative=false
12. https://fastdemocracy.com/bill-search/wa/2023-2024/bills/WAB00019112/