Government
Washington's state capitol, called the Legislative Building, is in Olympia, the capital since Washington became a state in 1889.Washington is governed under its original constitution of 1889 and its amendments. The executive department includes the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, commissioner of public lands, and insurance commissioner, all elected for four-year terms.
The legislature consists of a Senate of 49 members elected every four years, and a House of Representatives of 98 members elected every two years.
The judiciary includes the Supreme Court, a court of appeals, and superior courts. Most judges are elected.
The state is represented in Congress by two senators and nine representatives. There are 39 counties.
| Governors of Washington | |||
| Name | Party | Term | |
| Elisha P. Ferry | Republican | 1889-1893 | |
| John McGraw | Republican | 1893-1897 | |
| John Rogers | Democratic-Populist | 1897-1901 | |
| Henry McBride | Republican | 1901-1905 | |
| Albert E. Mead | Republican | 1905-1909 | |
| Samuel G. Cosgrove | Republican | 1909 | |
| Marion E. Hay | Republican | 1909-1913 | |
| Ernest Lister | Democratic | 1913-1919 | |
| Louis F. Hart | Republican | 1919-1925 | |
| Roland H. Hartley | Republican | 1925-1933 | |
| Clarence D. Martin | Democratic | 1933-1941 | |
| Arthur B. Langlie | Republican | 1941-1945 | |
| Monrad C. Wallgren | Democratic | 1945-1949 | |
| Arthur B. Langlie | Republican | 1949-1957 | |
| Albert D. Rosellini | Democratic | 1957-1965 | |
| Daniel J. Evans | Republican | 1965-1977 | |
| Dixy Lee Ray | Democratic | 1977-1981 | |
| John D. Spellman | Republican | 1981-1985 | |
| Booth Gardner | Democratic | 1985-1993 | |
| Mike Lowry | Democratic | 1993-1997 | |
| Gary Locke | Democratic | 1997-2005 | |
| Christine Gregoire | Democratic | 2005- | |
