How this works · Washington Files

How current it is

Statements of financial affairs (F-1): read from the PDC Oct 14, 2026, the newest dated Oct 13, 2026.
Candidates: read from the PDC Oct 14, 2026.
Campaign contributions: read from the PDC Oct 14, 2026, the newest dated Oct 14, 2026.
Campaign spending: read from the PDC Oct 14, 2026, the newest dated Oct 13, 2026.
Outside spending: read from the PDC Oct 14, 2026, the newest dated Oct 14, 2026.
Lobbyists' monthly reports: read from the PDC Oct 14, 2026, the newest dated Sep 30, 2026.
The Legislature's bills: read from the PDC Oct 14, 2026, the newest dated Aug 23, 2026.
Floor roll calls: read from the PDC Oct 15, 2026.

The data is read again in full each time the site is rebuilt; anything filed or amended since then appears at the next rebuild. Lobbyists report a month at a time, so their reports run to the end of the last month filed.

Where it comes from

Everything here is from the Washington Public Disclosure Commission's records on the state's open data portal (data.wa.gov): every statement of financial affairs (the F-1) filed for a period since 2024, every candidacy, and the contributions, spending and independent expenditures reported for them. The data was last read on 2026-10-15.

The F-1

Every elected official in Washington, state and local, files a statement of financial affairs for the previous year between January 1 and April 15, and candidates within two weeks of becoming one (RCW 29B.55.010). It lists income, accounts and investments, businesses, real estate, debts, lobbying for pay and certain gifts, in brackets ($0–29,999 up to $1,000,000 or more) except gifts, which are exact. We show what it says about the official's finances, not their family or home: dependents' names, the spouse's name and street addresses are left out (the PDC's copy, linked from every statement, has them).

Holdings

Each account or investment an F-1 lists has a nature (“Apple Inc.”, “VFIAX”, “Stocks”, “PERS 2”). Those that name something are matched against the Nasdaq and SEC lists of stocks, ETFs and mutual funds by ticker or name. A ticker counts when it stands alone, in parentheses, or beside words of the security's name; Washington's retirement plans and account types (“TRS”, “DRS”, “Joint”, “403(b)”) aren't read as tickers, and a one-word company name counts only when we've checked it. The account's own name is the institution holding it (Schwab, Fidelity), so it isn't read as a holding of that company's stock.

Matching people

The PDC gives each person one id across their statements and candidacies, so we don't match names to link them.

Findings

Each finding is a prompt to look closer, never a conclusion. Worth a look means something on the face of the record departs from what the rule asks; context is information for reading the record. Each rule quotes the official text it rests on, checked against a copy saved when the site was built.

Annual statement filed after April 15 Late or missing · worth a look

Elected officials and executive state officers file the statement for the previous year before April 15.

What it can't see: The date is the statement's first submission to the PDC. The data doesn't show extensions or other arrangements the PDC may have agreed to.

“After January 1st and before April 15th of each year, every elected official and every executive state officer who served for any portion of the preceding year shall electronically file with the commission a statement of financial affairs for the preceding calendar year or for that portion of the year served.” RCW 29B.55.010(1)

No statement found for a year in office Late or missing · worth a look

Anyone who held elected office for any part of a year files a statement for it before the next April 15.

What it can't see: Only people who won an election the year before (and so took office in the year) are checked, against any statement by the same PDC person id whose period reaches into the year. Officials who were already serving aren't checked: the data doesn't reliably say when an office ended. County charter review commissioners aren't checked either: we found no PDC guidance settling whether they file. Someone who filed under a different PDC id can be listed wrongly.

“After January 1st and before April 15th of each year, every elected official and every executive state officer who served for any portion of the preceding year shall electronically file with the commission a statement of financial affairs for the preceding calendar year or for that portion of the year served.” RCW 29B.55.010(1)

More than 12 lobbyist-paid meals in a year Lobbying · worth a look

The Legislative Ethics Board allows a legislator up to twelve meals a year paid for by a lobbyist or lobbyist employer; lobbyists' reports list who they paid for.

What it can't see: Counted from lobbyists' monthly reports: sit-down breakfasts, lunches and dinners (not receptions) that name the legislator, once per date and meal, leaving out anyone listed as paying their own way. A listing can include someone invited who didn't come, and a meal the Ethics Act exempts doesn't count toward the twelve.

““Infrequent occasions” means up to twelve qualifying meals total per calendar year. “In the ordinary course of meals” means breakfast, lunch, or dinner, regardless of cost.” Legislative Ethics Board, Rule 5 (Infrequent Meals)

Lobbyist-paid meal over $100 not on the F-1 Lobbying · worth a look

Food and beverage over $100 on a single occasion is reported on the F-1; a lobbyist reported paying more than $100 for this legislator, and their statement for the year doesn't list it.

What it can't see: Only shares the lobbyist's report states are used (no estimates). The F-1 is matched by date (within a week) or by the employer's or lobbyist's name; a different spelling can hide a match.

“Gifts in the form of food and beverage that exceed $100 on a single occasion shall be reported as provided in Title 29B RCW.” RCW 42.52.150(7)

Meals, travel and seminars accepted Gifts and meals · context

The F-1 lists meals over $100 and paid travel and seminar costs, which the $100 gift limit doesn't cover; the total and who paid are context.

What it can't see: Values are as the filer reported them.

“(l) A list of each occasion, specifying date, donor, and amount, at which food and beverage in excess of $100 was accepted under RCW 42.52.150 (7); (m) A list of each occasion, specifying date, donor, and amount, at which items specified in RCW 42.52.150 (1)(c) (iv) and (vi) were accepted;” RCW 29B.55.030(1)(l), (m)

Candidate's own money Campaign money · context

$25,000 or more of a campaign funded by the candidate is context for reading who else funded it.

What it can't see: The PDC codes contributions from the candidate as 'Self'; loans the candidate made to the campaign are not counted here.