OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered this comment following Rep. J.T. Wilcox’s announcement today that he is stepping down as House Republican leader, a position he has held since March 2018:
“Representative Wilcox and I have similar experiences as legislators, from when we were elected and our budget-committee backgrounds to when we became leaders of our respective caucuses. In the course of working together during our annual sessions and at other times of the year, I’ve seen the unique challenges he has faced and appreciate how he has handled them with grace, conviction and his trademark good-natured humor.
“I could not have asked for a better legislative ally than Representative Wilcox. He and I also have become great friends outside of the Legislature, and as his friend I’m glad he is making this decision on his own timeline. I’ll miss working with him in a leadership capacity but I recognize the demands that go with being a caucus leader. He leaves that position having made the House Republican Caucus a stronger group of leaders than it was five years ago, and has set the bar high for his successor.”
Wilcox, R-Yelm, is in his seventh term serving Washington’s 2nd Legislative District and will continue in that position.