A map of the legislative districts that were changed in 2024. This map could be changed back to districts similar to the 2022 maps.

By Alison McCaffree, Democracy Issue Chair, LWV of Washington

As of the morning of June 9, Washington state residents await a United States Supreme Court decision that could mean another change in legislative districts. A decision on a writ of certiorari, (Latin meaning “send us the files”) was due June 2. 

The case, and the current legislative map, was the subject of the lawsuit Soto Palmer v Hobbs that was settled in August 2024. Opponent’s petition to the Supreme Court came after the Ninth Circuit upheld the maps in August 2026. On May 26, 2026, a federal judge denied opponent’s request to re-open the case in light of the recent Louisiana v Callais decision. The district judge said wait for the SCOTUS decision on cert. 

A brief from the original plaintiffs (Soto Palmer, et al.) laid out the reasons that the opponents should not be able to file this claim. They emphasize that remedy maps were not created predominantly on race. They conclude that cert should be denied. 

Lawyers for Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs sent in a brief reminding the court that Washington state did not appeal the Ninth court decision and believes that the case should be sent back to the Ninth Circuit to take up the case again in the light of the conclusions in Louisiana v Callais. 

There are three possible outcomes:

1. SCOTUS denies cert and affirms the lower court ruling.
   This would be the best outcome for voters and would result in less chaos. The maps would stand for 2026 – 2030, until the 2030 Census numbers trigger the next round of map drawing in January 2031. Given the tenor of the court, this outcome is unlikely. 
   
   
2. SCOTUS denies cert and sends to Ninth Circuit to reconsider.
   This reconsider process will take time. It would most likely leave the maps for this year’s elections but opens the possibility of changing maps before 2028 or 2030. Given that Washington state is recommending this action, this is the most likely outcome; but no one knows for sure.
   
   
3. SCOTUS takes up the case.
   If the US Supreme Court decides to take the Soto Palmer case, it would have the first opportunity to do so when it reconvenes its next session between October 2026 and June 2027. This would also create the possibility of new maps before 2028 or 2030.

Whatever the decision, the uncertainty created is not good governance. The LWVWA supports a new type of redistricting commission that would put people first and minimize the chances of these types of lawsuits. Find more information on our redistricting webpage.

By Barb Tengtio, Immediate Past President, LWV Seattle King County

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization whose purpose is to promote the informed and active participation of citizens in government. Our mission is to empower voters and defend democracy.

At our core, nonpartisanship is not just a policy — it’s a bedrock principle that defines who we are at the League of Women Voters. As a membership organization committed to empowering voters and defending democracy, we do not support or oppose political parties or candidates. Our focus has always been, and will continue to be, on the issues that matter to our communities: ensuring fair elections, protecting voting rights, and strengthening our democratic institutions.

Our foundational principle of nonpartisanship states that, 'The League shall not support or oppose any political party or any candidate.' Nonpartisan does not mean non-political; issues are not partisan. The League is and has always been a political organization, advocating for equitable voting access for all and working on vital issues of concern to our members and the public.

The League’s advocacy work is issues-based, and we arrive at our policy positions through careful study and input from our members. We never derive our positions from politicians, and even when candidates or parties support the same issue, we never endorse them. You can find League's positions here.

We provide voters with information on where candidates stand on key issues, host nonpartisan forums, and work to ensure every eligible voter has access to the ballot. Our goal is to empower voters with facts, not to tell them who to vote for.

Once individuals are elected, they are no longer just candidates — they are public servants, responsible for representing all their constituents, regardless of party. Holding elected officials accountable to the public interest is not a partisan act; it is a vital function of a healthy democracy. When we advocate for or against policies based on our mission and values, we are doing so from our commitment to issues and strengthening civil institutions — not out of allegiance to any political party. In essence, we are pushing for action on voting rights, democracy protection, and other key areas, without favor or bias.

Remaining nonpartisan does not mean staying silent. When democracy itself is under threat, when voter access is restricted, or when misinformation spreads, we have a responsibility to speak out — clearly and forcefully.

For over a hundred years, League of Women Voters has worked to empower voters and defend democracy. We continue to envision a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge, and the confidence to participate.

The LWVWA and the 70-member Washington Newspaper Publishers Association have launched a campaign of letters to the editor and op-ed submissions to drive home the message that local news is vital to our democracy.

The project, titled “250 Years of the First Freedom,” makes use of local newspapers and outlets to remind Washingtonians what the First Amendment is for, why a free press matters, and why an informed public is the precondition for everything else a democracy is supposed to do.

The campaign launches as the nation begins its commemoration of its 250^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Like the press itself, “The League has informed voters, scrutinized government, hosted candidate forums and refused to let the public lose track of what its representatives are doing,” said Ellen Hiatt, executive director of the WNPA. 

Hiatt said that shared purpose boosts the credibility of the League and makes its members the perfect candidates for submitting letters to the editor about the value of local news and the importance of supporting a free press.

Hiatt went on to say that, like the League, local newspapers “are not just nice-to-have. They are how self-government actually happens at the county and city scale.”

The LWVWA approved the project as part of the organizations' strong support for local news. “As the state League’s study, ‘The Decline of Local News and Its Impact on Democracy↗️,’ showed us, robust local news coverage is critical to having healthy communities and a true democracy,” state President Karen Crowley said. 

Local Leagues through the state have agreed to submit letters to the editors of their local news outlets beginning in June through the calendar year, focusing on the link between a free press and democracy. Local League presidents recently received guidance about how their members can participate in the effort.

Crowley said she and local League presidents also will submit op-ed essays detailing why the League supports local news and encouraging others to do so.

Additional information is also available from program coordinators. Contact Dee Anne Finken, dfinken@lwvwa.org.

WNPA membership stretches across the state, from the Newport Miner in the Pend Oreille River Valley in eastern Washington to the Chinook Observer along the Pacific Ocean in Long Beach. Its members range in size from the Seattle Times to the tiny Grandview Herald.

The League has been a strong advocate for Sen. Marko Liias’ legislation seeking a nominal surcharge on search engines and social media giants to address the crisis that they have played a role in creating.

The project is titled “250 Years of the First Freedom” and it uses local newspapers and outlets to remind Washingtonians what the First Amendment is for, why a free press matters and why an informed public is the precondition for everything else a democracy is supposed to do.