Rep. Frank Chopp, who served 30 years in the Legislature and was the state’s longest-serving House Speaker from 1999 to 2019. (Legislative Support Services)
Longtime Washington Democratic Rep. Frank Chopp, who became one of the state’s most powerful House speakers over the two decades he held the leadership role, died Saturday. He was 71.
Chopp was first elected to represent Seattle’s 43rd Legislative District in 1994 and would go on to become the state’s longest-serving speaker of the House. He retired from the Legislature ahead of the current session, after announcing last year he would not seek reelection.
“He was one of a kind,” Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, said Saturday night, adding he didn’t know if anyone had had as much impact on the state.
Chopp moderated the 43rd District town hall on March 15, said Pedersen, who represents the district. Chopp phoned the majority leader two days later to discuss housing items that might be in the budget.
“Absolutely devastating news. R.I.P. Speaker Chopp,” Democratic Lt. Gov. Denny Heck wrote on Facebook. “You accomplished more in your 71 years than is almost imaginable. Our hearts are so heavy but full of gratitude for all you did for everyone.”
Chopp “was a force in Washington politics,” Gov. Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, posted on social media. “I had coffee with him just a few weeks ago, and he was as animated and energized as ever talking about solving problems for the people of our state.”
J.T. Wilcox, a former Republican lawmaker and House minority leader, said Chopp cared deeply about people who worked hard and “people who needed a hand up” and that he “loved and respected” the House of Representatives and honored its process “even at the expense of his policies.”
Former Gov. Jay Inslee posted on social media that Chopp “was one of the most effective and consequential legislative leaders in the whole nation. He led our march of progress in health and housing for years with unmatched ambition, compassion, and results. His spirit will inspire us.”
The 1994 election that brought Chopp to the Legislature also saw his Democratic Party lose more than two dozen seats, going from a near supermajority in the House to a 62-36 minority.
He ascended to leader of the House Democratic caucus in the late 1990s while it was still in the minority. He became co-speaker with Republican Clyde Ballard of East Wenatchee in 1999 when there were equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans in the House.
Democrats won a special election in Snohomish County in 2001 to gain control of the chamber and installed Chopp as speaker in 2002, a job he kept until stepping aside in 2019. At that time, he said he wanted to “focus more energy on the issues that matter most and are priorities for the caucus.”
His exit opened the door for Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, to become the first woman and first lesbian to serve as Washington House Speaker.
Chopp grew up in Bremerton and graduated from the University of Washington. He served several years as executive director of the Fremont Public Association, now known as Solid Ground, which offers resources such as food banks, housing and employment programs.
Chopp announced last March he would not seek re-election.
In his 30 years as a lawmaker, he focused heavily on housing and homelessness, working to increase the amount of affordable housing across the state, improve access to homeownership and house people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
He helped lead efforts to set up the state’s Housing Trust Fund and its Apple Health and Homes program, which uses Medicaid dollars to fund housing.
Chopp also pushed policies to expand behavioral health care facilities, child care access and student financial aid for more Washingtonians.
“I am proud to have played a role in helping people throughout Washington gain access to services and support that help them gain independence and realize their dreams,” he told the Standard last year.
“I do know how to get things done,” he said, adding he was not retiring.
“As people know about me, I am not the retiring type,” he said.
This post was originally authored and published by Jerry Cornfield from Washington State Standard via RSS Feed. Join today to get your news feed on Nationwide Report®.
