Rick Larsen | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2019 | |
| Ranking Member of theHouse Transportation Committee | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Sam Graves |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromWashington's2nd district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Jack Metcalf |
| Member of theSnohomish County Council from the 1st district | |
| In office January 1, 1998 – January 3, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | John Garner |
| Succeeded by | Mike Ashley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Ray Larsen (1965-06-15)June 15, 1965 (age 60) Arlington, Washington, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Pacific Lutheran University (BA) University of Minnesota (MPA) |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
Larsen supporting the Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act. Recorded January 25, 2023 | |
Richard Ray Larsen (born June 15, 1965) is an American politician serving as theUnited States representative forWashington's 2nd congressional district since 2001. A member of theDemocratic Party, Larsen is the ranking member of theHouse Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.[1]
Larsen was born and raised inArlington, Washington, and graduated fromArlington High School. He playedyouth soccer and was later aball boy for the originalSeattle Sounders.[2] Larsen attendedPacific Lutheran University and theUniversity of Minnesota, earning a master's degree in public affairs. He formerly worked as director of public affairs for the Washington State Dental Association and as a lobbyist for the dental profession.[3]
In 2006,CQPolitics wrote:
Larsen, a member of the centristNew Democrat Coalition[13] in the House, has carved an image as a moderate that appeals to crucial swing voters in the politically competitive coastal district in the northwestern corner of Washington State. He still maintains support from centers surrounding the port cities ofEverett andBellingham.
In 2005,The American Prospect characterizedWashington's 2nd congressional district as "traditionally Democratic" and contrasted that with Larsen's voting record at the time:[14]
Larsen won this traditionally Democratic district last year almost 2 to 1. Yet Larsen's voting record doesn't reflect these numbers: He voted in favor of thebankruptcy bill crafted by the credit-card industry, the Bush administration'sestate-tax repeal, and the tort "reform" bill supported by theU.S. Chamber of Commerce limiting the right to sue.
Larsen sits on theTransportation and Infrastructure Committee and formerly sat on theArmed Services Committee.[15] He has raised $1.26 million from political action committees affiliated with the transportation industry and $560,000 from political action committees affiliated with the defense industry.[16]
Larsen voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in the117th Congress, according to aFiveThirtyEight analysis.[17]
Planned Parenthood, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association andNARAL Pro-Choice America have all highly rated Larsen's position onabortion.[18] He has voted against several bills that would restrict abortion rights.[19] In 2022, Larsen reaffirmed his support for abortion rights and their protections underRoe v. Wade, saying he would "continue to stand with women and advocates in Washington state and across the country to ensure a woman’s right to access safe reproductive health care."[20]
Larsen voted for the 2009American Clean Energy and Security Act[21] known as "cap and trade". He has cosponsored legislation that would create theWild Sky Wilderness area in his home district[22] and is a member of theCongressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus.
On February 8, 2019, Larsen came out in opposition to theGreen New Deal, saying:[23]
I am not ready to support the Green New Deal resolution. It is difficult to support the resolution right now when one of the lead sponsors says one of the intentions is to make air travel unnecessary.
In 2020,Fuse Washington in itsProgressive Voters Guide noted that Larsen does not support the Green New Deal and accepted political contributions from corporations includingExxonMobil "as recently as last year".[24][25]
Larsen has supported the House Democratic proposal for theAffordable Care Act.[26] He voted for the reform bill in November 2009.[27] Larsen does not support single-payer health insurance. He has said he "thought it was more appropriate to stick with defending Obamacare, not to change in the middle of the controversy".[28]
Larsen opposes Medicare for All and has said he supports the Public Option Deficit Reduction Act[29] as an alternative.[30] This proposal adds a public option to the Affordable Care Act using the same market-based exchanges while lowering premiums by only five to seven percent.[31]
In 2007, Larsen opposed impeaching PresidentGeorge W. Bush, saying, "I believe the American people elected a Democratic majority to make positive changes in their lives. If we took up impeachment, we would do nothing else for the next 2 years. I don't think that's what we were elected to do".[32] Larsen supported impeachingPresident Donald J. Trump on July 18, 2019.[33]
Although Larsen initially voted against a bill authorizing military force inIraq in October 2002, he also voted against an amendment that sought to have the United States work through the United Nations to resolve tensions instead of invading Iraq.[34] In 2006, Larsen voted against requiring Congressional authorization for use of force in Iran,[35] and in 2011 he voted for use of force in Libya.[36]
Since 2002, Larsen has voted for nearly every bill put forth in the House concerning the wars inIraq andAfghanistan.[37] In 2006, theSeattle Post-Intelligencer described Larsen as a "strong advocate for providing money to support the [Iraq War]".[38]
In 2006, Larsen voted to endorse the War in Iraq and against a mandated withdrawal plan.[39] In 2008, he said that troops would be in Iraq "well into the next administration" and likely remain "for another 10 years".[40] Larsen supportedPresident Obama's proposed exit strategy, which promised to remove combat troops by summer of 2010.[41]
Larsen voted for the S-Miner Act and Extending Federal Emergency Unemployment Benefits and Providing Business and Homebuyer Tax Credits bill.[42] He showed support for the interests of the Utility Workers Union of America, Service Employees International Union, American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, and AFL–CIO.[43] He claims to support Washington State's economy by investing in small- to medium-size businesses to help them succeed in the global economy.[42]
In January 2014, Larsen faced criticism from theInternational Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers for supportingBoeing's proposal to replace pensions with a 401(k)-style retirement plan.[44]
As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Larsen has voted for every transportation bill since being reelected in 2008.[42] He believes that "sound investments in transportation keep our economy moving" and improve conditions in other areas.[42] Larsen was one of 79 cosponsors of the SAFETEA-LU bill to improve highways, increase funding for ferry systems, and expedite the flow of traffic and goods through border crossings.[45]
Larsen defeated RepublicanDoug Roulstone, a retired Navy officer fromSnohomish, with 65% of the vote to Roulstone's 34%.
Larsen was challenged in the Democratic primary during his 2008 reelection campaign by perennial candidate Glen Johnson. His Republican opponent for the House race was recently retired Snohomish County Sheriff Rick Bart.
For the 2008 election cycle, Larsen's campaign's total income was $1,336,438.[46] His campaign spent $1,155,691.[46] The companies that contributed the most money were Boeing Co., Microsoft Corp., American Dental Assn., McBee Strategic Consulting, and Puget Energy.[46] The labor, finance/insurance/real estate, transportation, misc. business, and health sectors were the largest contributing sectors.[46] The major industry donations came from health professionals, transportation unions, building trade unions, retired, and sea transport.[46]
Larsen narrowly defeated Republican nominee John Koster to win a sixth term.
Larsen was endorsed by theSeattle Post-Intelligencer on October 13, 2010.[47]
In 2012, Larsen won reelection with 61% of the vote to Republican nominee Dan Matthews's 39%.[48]
Larsen was challenged by Republican Marc Hennemann. Hennemann decided to challenge Larsen after receiving an answer he disliked to a question at a town hall meeting in Coupeville.[49] Larsen defeated Hennemann, 64% to 36%.[50]
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Rick Larsen | 146,617 | 50% | John Koster | 134,660 | 46% | Stuart Andrews | Libertarian | 7,672 | 3% | Glen S. Johnson | Natural Law | 4,231 | 1% | ||||
| 2002 | Rick Larsen | 101,219 | 50% | Norma Smith | 92,528 | 46% | Bruce Guthrie | Libertarian | 4,326 | 2% | Bernard P. Haggerty | Green | 4,077 | 2% | ||||
| 2004 | Rick Larsen | 202,383 | 64% | Suzanne Sinclair | 106,333 | 34% | Bruce Guthrie | Libertarian | 7,966 | 2% | ||||||||
| 2006 | Rick Larsen | 157,064 | 64% | Doug Roulstone | 87,730 | 36% | ||||||||||||
| 2008 | Rick Larsen | 217,416 | 62% | Rick Bart | 131,051 | 38% | ||||||||||||
| 2010 | Rick Larsen | 155,241 | 51% | John Koster | 148,722 | 49% | ||||||||||||
| 2012 | Rick Larsen | 184,826 | 61% | Dan Matthews | 117,465 | 39% | ||||||||||||
| 2014 | Rick Larsen | 67,812 | 62% | B.J. Guillot | 41,889 | 38% | ||||||||||||
| 2016 | Rick Larsen | 208,314 | 64% | Marc Hennemann | 117,094 | 36% | ||||||||||||
| 2018 | Rick Larsen | 210,187 | 71% | Brian Luke | Libertarian | 84,646 | 29% | |||||||||||
| 2020 | Rick Larsen | 255,252 | 63% | Timothy S. Hazelo | 148,384 | 37% | ||||||||||||
| 2022 | Rick Larsen | 202,980 | 60% | Dan Matthews | 134,335 | 40% | ||||||||||||
| 2024 | Rick Larsen | 263,750 | 64% | Cody Hart | 148,167 | 36% |
Larsen married Tiia Ingrid Karlen in 1994. They have two children.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromWashington's 2nd congressional district 2001–present | Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | United States representatives by seniority 33rd | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Order of precedence of the United States | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
