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Portrait of Kevin WatersPhoto: leg.wa.gov

WA · Officeholder

Kevin Waters

RState Representative · District 17

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Washington House District 17

Biography

Kevin Waters is a Republican member of the Washington House of Representatives for District 17-Position 1, in office since January 9, 2023, and he is running for re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election against Democrat Ben Christly.[1] A business owner and economic development manager for Skamania County, he previously served as a Port of Skamania commissioner.[2]

Waters was born in Portland, Oregon, graduated from Stevenson High School and earned a bachelor's degree in public relations, advertising and applied communications from Eastern Washington University in 2008, according to Ballotpedia.[1] His House Republican biography says he has lived in Southwest Washington his entire life and started his family's business, Backwoods Brewing, which grew to more than 70 employees.[2] It says he was a Port of Skamania commissioner from 2010 to 2019 and is economic development manager for Skamania County and executive director of the Skamania Economic Development Council.[2]

Waters succeeded Republican Vicki Kraft in the 17th District seat.[1] His biography says he is a former corrections officer and the ranking Republican on the State Government and Tribal Relations Committee, and that he also serves on the Capital Budget, Rules, and Technology, Economic Development and Veterans committees.[2]

  1. 1.Kevin Waters · Ballotpedia Reference
  2. 2.About Rep. Kevin Waters · Washington State House Republicans · 2026-10-21 Official record

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.

Washington House District 17

Kevin Waters is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Washington House District 17 as R. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.

Ballotpedia ↗

Other candidates for this seat

Ben ChristlyCandidateDWashington House District 17WashingtonPortrait of Dave StuebeDave StuebeState Representative · District 17RAlso on the 2026 ballot: Washington House District 17WashingtonDiana PerezCandidateDWashington House District 17Washington

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Republicans voted. How topics are assigned

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 59 of 554 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (16), Rights & public safety (16), Climate & energy (12)

  • Agricultural coops/cannabis

    What it does: Authorizing agricultural cooperatives for cannabis producers.

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 56–3, Republicans 13–23

    Mar 12, 2026Official record ↗

  • CIC resale certificates

    What it does: Concerning resale certificates for units in common interest communities.

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 56–1, Republicans 5–33

    Mar 11, 2026Official record ↗

  • Low-income energy assistance

    What it does: Establishing a statewide low-income energy assistance program.

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 58–0, Republicans 12–26

    Mar 11, 2026Official record ↗

  • AI companion chatbots

    What it does: Concerning regulation of artificial intelligence companion chatbots.

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 58–1, Republicans 16–20

    Mar 11, 2026Official record ↗

  • Waste to energy facilities

    What it does: Concerning fair treatment of waste to energy facilities under the climate commitment act.

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 59–0, Republicans 17–20

    Mar 11, 2026Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.

HB 1526 · WA HOUSE

Snack bar liquor licenses

YesVOTED

Motion: Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Modifying the snack bar liquor license.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 87–9·Substantive·Mar 12, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 1701 · WA HOUSE

Liquor licensee premises

YesVOTED

Motion: Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Authorizing multiple liquor licensees to have licensed premises within a facility owned and leased out by another liquor licensee or person.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 89–7·Substantive·Mar 12, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 1795 · WA HOUSE

Student restraint, isolation

NoVOTED

Motion: Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Addressing restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 58–37·Substantive·Mar 12, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 1941 · WA HOUSE

Agricultural coops/cannabis

YesVOTED

Motion: Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Authorizing agricultural cooperatives for cannabis producers.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 69–26·Substantive·Mar 12, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 2034 · WA HOUSE

LEOFF 1 restatement

NoVOTED

Motion: Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Concerning termination and restatement of plan 1 of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 50–46·Substantive·Mar 12, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 2215 · WA HOUSE

Fuels/climate commitment act

NoVOTED

Motion: Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Concerning climate commitment act compliance obligations for fuels supplied or otherwise sold into Washington.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 57–38·Substantive·Mar 12, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 5998 · WA HOUSE

Operating budget, supp.

NoVOTED

Motion: Final Passage as Recommended by the Conference Committee

Making 2025-2027 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 54–43·Substantive·Mar 12, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 6005 · WA HOUSE

Transportation budget, supp.

NoVOTED

Motion: Final Passage as Recommended by the Conference Committee

Making supplemental transportation appropriations for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 69–26·Substantive·Mar 12, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 6231 · WA HOUSE

Data center equipment/taxes

YesVOTED

Motion: 2663 Orcutt Pg 2 Ln 25

Removing a tax exemption for the replacement of equipment for data centers.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Failed 47–50·Substantive·Mar 12, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 6231 · WA HOUSE

Data center equipment/taxes

NoVOTED

Motion: 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Removing a tax exemption for the replacement of equipment for data centers.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 51–46·Substantive·Mar 12, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 857 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.