Pierce County lawmaker to leave state House after three terms

On the final day of the 60-day legislative session, state Rep. Christine Kilduff, D-University Place, announced on Thursday that she will not seek re-election this year.

Kilduff said she will complete her two-year term and leave the position in January, 2021. She is chairperson of the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee, one of the busiest in the Legislature; and a member of the budget-writing House Appropriations Committee.

First elected in 2014, Kilduff is a former assistant attorney general and a University Place School Board president.

“It has been a tremendous honor to serve and represent the 28th Legislative District. We are a highly-engaged group of citizens. I have been in public service for 25 years, including my time with the attorney general’s office. I see myself continuing in public service, not just in elective office,” she said in an interview.

Kilduff said she never imagined that “this granddaughter of four Irish immigrants planned on running for school board or the state House. It has been a thrill. I am immensely grateful to my family--my wife, Colleen, and our amazing daughters, Amelia and Julia--for their unending love and willingness to allow me to run and serve as state representative, which included many hours away from home.”

This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 12:00 PM.