Kim Wyman

Kim Wyman
15th Secretary of State of Washington
In office
January 16, 2013 – November 19, 2021
GovernorJay Inslee
Preceded bySam Reed
Succeeded bySteve Hobbs
Personal details
Born
Kimberley Marie Wyman

(1962-07-15) July 15, 1962 (age 62)
Southern California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
John Wyman
​
(m. 1988)​
Children2
EducationCalifornia State University, Long Beach (BA)
Troy University (MPA)

Kimberley Marie Wyman[1] (born July 15, 1962) is an American politician who served as the 15th Secretary of State of Washington from 2013 to 2021.[2][3] Wyman resigned as Secretary of State on November 19, 2021, to work on election security at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in the Biden administration. As of 2024, Wyman is the last Republican to have held statewide office in the State of Washington, or in any of the three contiguous West Coast states.

Early life and education

Wyman attended college at California State University, Long Beach and lived abroad after graduation[citation needed]. Barriers to voting in US elections while living in Germany inspired her to become an elections official. She earned her Master of Public Administration degree from Troy University's European Division. Wyman was one of the first public officials to become a Certified Elections/Registration Administrator from Auburn University.[4]

Political career

In 2001, Wyman was appointed as Thurston County Auditor, succeeding Sam Reed. She was elected to the position in 2002 and reelected in 2006 and 2010.[4]

In the 2012 Washington state elections, Wyman was elected Secretary of State, succeeding Sam Reed, narrowly defeating her Democratic opponent, former state Representative Kathleen Drew.[2] Wyman was the only Republican elected to statewide office in the state.[5] She was endorsed in the election by the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin,[6] The Wenatchee World,[7] the Tri-City Herald,[8] and The Seattle Times.[9] The Times cited her bipartisan appeal and experience as an elections administrator in its endorsement. She was also endorsed by the Washington Education Association,[10] which normally endorses Democrats.[8]

In the 2016 elections, Wyman was reelected, defeating former Seattle City Councilwoman Tina Podlodowski with 55% of the vote.[11]

Wyman was re-elected to a third term in the 2020 election, defeating Democratic State Representative Gael Tarleton with 53% of the vote. On October 27, 2021, Wyman announced that she would resign as Secretary of State to join the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in the Biden administration to work on election security. Her resignation took effect on November 19.[12]

Personal life

Wyman lives in Lacey, Washington, with her husband John and their two children. She has run in several marathons.[4]

In March 2017, Wyman was diagnosed with an early form of colon cancer.[13]

Electoral history

Washington Secretary of State Primary Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kim Wyman 528,754 39.75%
Democratic Kathleen Drew 289,052 21.73%
Democratic Greg Nickels 210,832 15.85%
Democratic Jim Kastama 185,425 13.94%
Constitution Karen Murray 50,888 3.83%
Independent David Anderson 44,276 3.33%
Human Rights Sam Wright 20,809 1.56%
Secretary of State of Washington[14]
Year Republican Votes Pct Democratic Votes Pct
2012 Kim Wyman 1,464,741 50.38% Kathleen Drew 1,442,868 49.62%
2016 Kim Wyman 1,713,004 54.74% Tina Podlodowski 1,416,299 45.26%
2020 Kim Wyman 2,116,141 53.61% Gael Tarleton 1,826,710 46.27%

References

  1. ^ Candidate Registration, Thurston County Auditor, 2009
  2. ^ a b Reed, Sam (November 21, 2012). "November 06, 2012 General Election Results". Secretary of State of Washington. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  3. ^ "Kim Wyman leads Gael Tarleton in Washington state secretary of state election results". Seattle Times. November 3, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Meet Kim". Kim Wyman. Archived from the original on October 28, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  5. ^ Brunner, Jim (November 17, 2012). "State Republicans ponder long-term prospects on blue West Coast". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 18, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  6. ^ "Kim Wyman clear choice for Washington's secretary of state". Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. October 12, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  7. ^ "Kim Wyman for secretary of state". The Wenatchee World. October 20, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Kim Wyman best choice for secretary of state". Tri-City Herald. October 3, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  9. ^ "Editorial: The Times recommends Kim Wyman for Washington's secretary of state". The Seattle Times. October 7, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  10. ^ "WEA-PAC recommends Kim Wyman for election as Secretary of State". Washington Education Association. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  11. ^ "Washington Secretary of State Results: Kim Wyman Wins". The New York Times. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  12. ^ O'Sullivan, Joseph (October 26, 2021). "Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman resigns to join Biden administration". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  13. ^ "Secretary of State Kim Wyman to be treated for colon cancer". The Seattle Times. March 27, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  14. ^ "Election Results and Voters Pamphlets". Secretary of State of Washington. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of State of Washington
2013–2021 		Succeeded by