Secretary Of State Wyman Leaves To Join Biden Administration

OLYMPIA, WA — Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman will be leaving the Evergreen State to join the Biden administration.

After several swirling rumors that Wyman had been tapped to join the Department of Homeland Security, the Secretary of State confirmed Tuesday that she was resigning to accept an appointment as Senior Election Security Lead for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

"I am honored to be able to share nearly three decades of experience and expertise at the federal level to support CISA’s efforts to safeguard our election systems from cyberattacks and enhance the public’s confidence in our elections," Wyman wrote in a statement announcing her resignation. "As I assume this new role, I remain committed to protecting the integrity of our elections, and working closely with local and state elections officials nationwide to bolster this foundational pillar of our democracy."

Wyman would go on to say that she had been "truly blessed" by the opportunity to serve Washington, and thank Washingtonians for their support.

Wyman, a Republican, at first blush may seem an odd choice for the Biden administration, but has made a name for herself as one of few Republicans to firmly push back against the claims of widespread voter fraud made by former President Donald Trump and his allies. At the end of the 2020 general election, when Washington gubernatorial candidate Loren Culp began making claims that election 'anomalies' cost him the election, Wyman was one of the first and loudest voices defending the election's integrity.

In a message to supporters, Wyman said she would continue to fight for secure, fair elections in her new position.

"The goal is clear: we must protect and defend the Constitutional pillar of our republic - elections," Wyman said.

Wyman is widely considered an expert on mail-in ballots and voting security. Her biography at the Secretary of State's Office also notes that she "often shares Washington’s award-winning, innovative election administration and cybersecurity practices with organizations across the country" and that she lead the office as it "modernize[d] and secure[d] the state’s election infrastructure."

Following Wyman's announcement, Gov. Jay Inslee issued a statement thanking her for her service and wishing her well in future endeavors. It reads, in part:

“I spoke to Kim earlier today and congratulated her on her appointment. She has remained independent in the face of partisan challenges and has always done what was best for the strength of our democracy.

“I remember watching Kim certify the 2020 election results last December on the floor of the state Senate. When confronted with the choice of adopting election lies being promulgated by powerful forces in her party, Kim chose to stand by the will of the people. We are a stronger state because of Kim’s endeavors."

Wyman has been Washington's Secretary of State since 2012. Before that, she served three terms as the Thurston County Auditor and as Thurston County Elections Director for nearly a decade.

"During my tenure as a state and county elections administrator, Washington expanded vote-by-mail elections statewide, installed nearly 500 ballot drop boxes, implemented same-day and automatic voter registration, enabled 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote, and more," Wyman wrote. "This growth in access was coupled with partnerships that improved election security, from creating the VoteWA system that connects election officials in real-time to ensure election accountability, to establishing the first-of-its-kind Elections Security Operations Center."

Wyman's resignation is effective Nov. 19.

Wyman's departure for D.C. will be a blow to the Washington GOP, as Wyman was the last Republican to hold statewide office. As the Times explains, Wyman's successor in Washington will be appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee, and hold the position until November 2022, when a new Secretary of State would be elected. That winning candidate will then serve the remainder of Wyman's term, which ends in 2024.

As for who may replace Wyman, Inslee says no decision has been made just yet, and nothing is off the table.

"I will appoint her replacement in the coming weeks, and I believe that regardless of who it is, they will continue the vital work that Kim and her staff have put in place,” Inslee said.