Jim Walsh (Washington politician)

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Jim Walsh
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 19th district
Assumed office
December 8, 2016 (2016-12-08)
Preceded byJD Rossetti
Personal details
Born1964 (age 57–58)
Jacksonville, Florida[1]
Political partyRepublican
Alma materAmherst College (BA)

James W. Walsh[2] (born 1964)[3] is a Republican member of the Washington State House of Representatives.[4]

Walsh attended Amherst College, graduating in 1986. He currently lives in Aberdeen with his wife and the younger two of his five children, who still attend school in the area. He was first elected to the state legislature in 2016. He represents the 19th Legislative District, including parts of Grays Harbor, Pacific, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, and Lewis counties.[5]

In October 2018, roughly two weeks before the elections, Walsh was sued by two constituents for banning them from his Facebook page. The constituents argued that Walsh's actions constituted a violation of their first amendment rights. Walsh countered that they were blocked from his page for defaming his supporters and specifically bashing on Christians, claiming he had warned them to stop their disruptive posts on multiple occasions before finally removing them.[6] The chief plaintiff in the lawsuit, Jeff Nichols of Montesano, is the outgoing chair of the 19th Legislative District Democrats.[7]

In 2021, Walsh wore a yellow Star of David (the symbol that Nazis forced Jews to wear during the Holocaust), likening individuals who refuse to vaccinate against COVID-19 to the Jews in Nazi Germany. Walsh said, "In the current context, we’re all Jews." The Seattle-based Holocaust Center for Humanity said that Walsh trivialized the Holocaust and distorted history.[8]

In August 2021, Walsh and four other state Republican lawmakers held an unofficial hearing with the aim of possibly calling for a "forensic audit" to take place in Washington State similar to the criticized Arizona audit. The group that organized the event also invited figures that have falsely claimed there was voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election.[9]

Walsh publicly refused to comply with Washington State's COVID-19 proof of vaccination requirements; he was subsequently denied entrance to the Capitol building.[10]

References[]

  1. ^ {[cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/171003/jim-walsh%7Ctitle=Jim Walsh's Biography|work=VoteSmart|access-date=2021-12-24}}
  2. ^ "Summary, Full Report Receipts and Expenditures, James W Walsh". Public Disclosure Commission, State of Washington. 2018-08-09. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  3. ^ "Legislative Manual 2021-2022" (PDF). Washington State Legislature.
  4. ^ "About Rep. Jim Walsh". Jim Walsh. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  5. ^ "November 8, 2016 General Election Results - Legislative District 19 - State Representative Pos. 1". results.vote.wa.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  6. ^ Press, Rachel La Corte | Associated (2018-10-26). "Lawmaker sued for banning 2 constituents from Facebook page". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  7. ^ “19th Legislative District Democrats”. 19th LDDC. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  8. ^ "Washington lawmaker wears yellow Star of David, evoking Nazi persecution, to protest COVID vaccine mandates". The Seattle Times. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  9. ^ Brunner, Jim (2021-08-13). "Washington Republican legislators push election fraud narrative at hearing on Sunday". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  10. ^ Hoffman, Ari (21 October 2021). "Republican lawmaker denied entry to Washington state Capitol buildings for refusing to show proof of vaccination".
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