Rodney Thornley

Rodney Thornley is the Independent Party of Washington candidate for the Washington House of Representatives, District 46-Position 2, facing Democratic incumbent Darya Farivar in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1] In a Ballotpedia survey, he said he is retired, a longtime basketball official and a substitute teacher and coach, and that he is running as an independent to change the culture in the Legislature.[2]

In a Ballotpedia survey, Rodney "Star" Thornley said he was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, moved to the Bay Area at age 8, and moved to Washington as an eighth grader, living in Seattle's University District.[2] He wrote that he attended Seattle Central, played basketball there, and then transferred to the University of Washington after he did not make the Seattle Pacific College team.[2] He described himself as a competitive water skier, president of the Washington and Oregon federations of the sport, and the longest-working active basketball official in the Seattle metro area at 52 years.[2]

Thornley wrote that he is retired, substitute teaches and coaches junior varsity boys' basketball at his alma mater, teaches dance classes, holds an active real estate license and drives for Uber and Lyft.[2] He said he is running as an independent because too many elected officials fall in line with party leadership, and he proposed a state citizenship program he calls "Washingtonship" for undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers who have lived in Washington more than a year.[2] He also called for campaign reform, saying campaigns have become too dependent on money, and listed allocating unfunded projects and taxes as areas of policy interest.[2]

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