Tri-City lawmaker calls it quits from WA Senate. He’s focused on a new office
Republican State Sen. Matt Boehnke, who’s represented the Tri-Cities in Olympia for nearly eight years, announced his retirement Thursday at the Washington State Capitol.
This will be his last legislative session. Boehnke said he will not seek reelection this year to his seat representing Washington’s 8th Legislative District.
Instead, he’s running for Congress in an attempt to succeed outgoing U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Sunnyside.
During Thursday’s floor session, Boehnke received bipartisan praise, and kind words for his service and expertise in the realm of energy and technology lawmaking.
The Senate voted unanimously to co-sponsor and pass a resolution honoring Boehnke’s time in the Legislature. In an interview with McClatchy, he called the resolution “very kind, very humbling.”
“I think it’s the hardships that you live toward, and the true colors come out of that,” Boehnke said from the floor. “When you’re going through a grind of a long or short session, in committees, on a bill, working those days and nights that we talk about — I think that’s what comes to mind that I won’t ever forget.”
Boehnke is a rare breed of politician these days. A conservative known for leaning on his principles, he’s largely bucked the brash brand of politicking that has alienated many Evergreen State Democrats in favor of bipartisan problem-solving.
Getting praise from across the aisle, he says, shows that he can “walk the walk” on legislative work. Many state senators who spoke Thursday on the floor noted his kind, humble nature, pragmatism and willingness to do the hard work behind the scenes.
‘I hate the fact that he’s leaving us’
Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, said while Boehnke served in the Senate for just four years, he showed himself to be an effective, proven lawmaker from day one.
Prior to being elected to the Senate in 2022, Boehnke served four years representing his district in the state House and two years on the Kennewick City Council.
“It feels like he’s been here for decades. He’s very effective, he’s a great fit for our caucus, a great fit for the body,” Braun said. “Matt Boehnke is a pro, he’s a team player. He works every day to position his district and our state to be successful in energy, in education, in economic development. We are blessed to have him for the last four years.”
Sen. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, said he’s seen the spirit of former Vice President Hubert Humphrey, nicknamed the “Happy Warrior,” in Boehnke’s style of work.
“He believes fiercely and strongly in his conservative principles,” Liias said. “It’s clear every day, when he comes to committee, that he’s going to show up for the people of the 8th District, but more importantly he’s going to show up for the values he holds so dear. But he does it in such a friendly and hospitable way that it makes it possible to find common ground, it makes it possible to work together.”
Sen. Drew Hansen, D-Bainbridge Island, praised Boehnke on many policy fronts.
He gave kudos for backing legislation allowing PUD districts to deliver broadband internet as a utility, for Boehnke’s bill this session that aimed to increase federal college aid application completion rates, and for supporting Hansen’s fraud prevention transparency bill.
“I can’t stand the fact that he’s leaving us, I hate the fact that he’s leaving us,” Hansen said. “This might not be the smartest thing for me to say, but he is beloved by a lot of members over here.”
Boehnke serves on the senate environment, energy and technology committee as ranking minority member, as well as the higher education and workforce development, ways and means, rule and business, financial services, gaming and trade committees.
He was also on the receiving end of some jestful banter during the floor session — particularly from veterans of different military branches — that he took in good spirit.
Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley — the retired naval aviator who gave Boehnke a proper military salute on the floor — said he was a “human cheat sheet” on some of the most complex technology policy discussions.
During a speech on the floor, the Kennewick product said his “heart was full today.” Boehnke thanked Braun, and other leaders and lawmakers he’s worked with over the years.
The last day of the short 2026 legislative session was Thursday, March 12.
A crowded and open field for WA-04
Boehnke is running for Congress mostly on his military and cyber security experience, but he’ll have plenty of strong competition to tend with.
Several other candidates say they’ll run later this year for the open seat, including Republican Amanda McKinney, Republican Jerrod Sessler, Democrat John Duresky, independent Devin Poore, and Republican John Hughs.
The field remains fluid as candidates can’t register with the Washington Secretary of State’s Office to run until May.
While McKinney has secured this year’s coveted endorsement from President Trump, both Sessler and Boehnke have painted themselves as aligned with the MAGA president on the issues. Splitting conservative votes in the August jungle primary could risk a Democrat getting through to the November general election, similar to what happened in 2022.
Newhouse has not said if or who he might endorse in the race. But he did invite Boehnke as a guest to Trump’s February State of the Union address.
The hops farmer still catches flack for his vote to impeach Trump over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol.
Washington’s 4th Congressional District stretches from Canada to the Oregon border. The Central Washignton district encompasses the Tri-Cities, Yakima, Yakama Indian Reservation, East Wenatchee, Omak and Goldendale.
It is the state’s most conservative-leaning congressional district. In the 2024 presidential election, Trump won the district over former Vice President Kamala Harris by nearly 21 percentage points.
Former Gov. Jay Inslee was the last Democrat to represent the 4th District.
This story was originally published March 12, 2026 at 3:58 PM.
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