WA GOP demands resignation of leading House Democrat for drinking on duty
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- WAGOP urged Fitzgibbon resign after video showed him slurring during budget meeting.
- House Democratic leaders stand with Fitzgibbon as he focuses on well-being and family.
- Public and lawmakers debate removal, censure, fine or other punishment options.
Washington state House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon is facing calls to resign after the leading Democratic lawmaker apologized Thursday for drinking on the job.
Fitzgibbon acknowledged drinking before finishing up business in the House Appropriations Committee during a Feb. 25 meeting on budget legislation. The apology came after a video seemed to show the West Seattle Democrat slightly slurring his words during the hearing.
On Thursday evening, the Washington State Republican Party (WA GOP) wrote in a post on X that the Democrat should “resign immediately.”
The party also asked whether House Speaker Laurie Jinkins would “demand his resignation,” adding: “She should.”
Fitzgibbon said Friday that he doesn’t plan to resign.
“I plan to finish my work this session,” he said. “I’ve learned a really hard lesson, and maybe others can learn from it, too. I certainly have. But I’ve got more work to do and I plan to keep doing it.”
McClatchy also sought comment from Jinkins but did not receive a reply from the Tacoma Democrat before publication.
However, in an emailed statement Thursday, Jinkins said that “House Democratic Caucus leadership stands with Rep. Fitzgibbon as he takes whatever steps he needs to ensure his well-being.”
KOMO News is now asking readers to vote in an online reaction poll on the type of punishment that Fitzgibbon should receive: removal, censure, fine or “other.”
WA GOP Chairman Jim Walsh told McClatchy in a call that WA GOP’s social media platform is the voice of where the state’s Republican base stands on issues, news and policy. He said “outraged” Republican voters across the state think Fitzgibbon should step down or be booted from leadership.
Walsh, who’s also a state representative from Aberdeen, said his personal feelings on the matter are a bit less harsh, and that he does not think Fitzgibbon broke any law. Still, Walsh called the Democrat’s behavior “reckless.”
He said that Wednesday’s committee meeting was not inconsequential.
“This was a major high-profile committee hearing on a substantive budget issue that’s going to affect millions of people’s lives,” Walsh said.
House Democrats rolled out their supplemental operating budget proposal last weekend. The chamber is expected to vote on it this Saturday.
Rep. Michelle Valdez, a Gig Harbor Republican, told “The Jason Rantz Show” Thursday that she’s never seen Fitzgibbon act like that before. Valdez, formerly Caldier, was present during Wednesday’s House Appropriations Committee meeting and said that Fitzgibbon was “more friendly” and slurring his speech.
Valdez told Rantz that Democrats and Republicans have been equally guilty of this issue.
“They have a rule that you can’t have alcohol in the building,” she said, “but that rule is violated all the time.”
The News Tribune staff writer Gavin Feek contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with comment from House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon.
This story was originally published February 27, 2026 at 2:09 PM with the headline "WA GOP demands resignation of leading House Democrat for drinking on duty."
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