Longtime Olympia lawmaker Sam Hunt dies at 83, family announces
Sam Hunt, a former Washington state Senator and Representative who served the Olympia area in the Legislature for nearly 25 years, died Saturday, a family member announced on social media. Hunt was 83.
“We are devastated to announce the passing of former Senator and WSU Regent Samuel Hunt,” said daughter Hillary Hunt in the Facebook post. “An amazing husband, father, grandfather, and partner. He passed this morning after a short battle with leukemia. He was deeply loved and will be forever missed.”
Hunt was elected to the Senate in 2016 after serving as a Washington state Representative since 2001, The Olympian previously reported in a story about his retirement from elected office.
Hunt served Legislative District 22, which includes Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater.
Before serving as an elected official, Hunt began as a Senate staffer in 1980. Hunt also worked for former Washington Gov. Booth Gardner and the state Department of Information Services, which is now part of the Department of Enterprise Services, according to that Olympian report.
According to the article about his retirement, the Senator noted that he was “particularly proud” that during his time as chair of the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee and as chair of the Senate State Government and Elections Committee that Washington’s elections became the “most secure, accurate, and accessible election system in the country” with voting reforms such as mail-in voting, election day registration and secure ballot drop boxes.
A number of elected and public officials responded to his daughter’s post with their own thoughts and memories of Hunt.
“What an amazing human he was,” said Thurston County Treasurer Jeff Gadman. “A true friend, he was always compassionate and a statesman. Most important, he loved his family.”
“Sending you and your family so much love! Such sad news,” said Thurston County Commissioner Carolina Mejia.
“He was responsible for a lot of ‘good little bills,’ important legislation and putting people first,” said Tumwater City Council member Eileen Swarthout. “He was the real deal.”
“Sam was a great person, WSU Coug, and terrific friend,” said Lacey Fire District 3 Commissioner Frank Kirkbride. “His contribution to our state and university was unequaled. Rest in peace my friend.”
Gov. Bob Ferguson also shared his thoughts on social media.
“Very sad news,” he said. “I’ll always remember visiting Sam’s home as he showed me his impressive political button collection. He had a story for each one. It was a blast — and a fascinating window into Washington political history which Sam lived.”
A graduate of Washington State University, Sam was a schoolteacher in Pasco (where he also served as a city council member and mayor pro tempore) and Montesano, according to the Washington Senate Democrats.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Sam Hunt Memorial Scholarship at Washington State University. More information can be found on his daughter’s Facebook post.
This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 2:31 PM with the headline "Longtime Olympia lawmaker Sam Hunt dies at 83, family announces."
