Chris Stearns
{{short description|American politician from Washington state}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Chris Stearns
|office = Speaker pro tempore of the Washington House of Representatives
|term_start = January 13, 2025
|term_end =
|predecessor = Tina Orwall
|successor =
|state_house1 = Washington
|district1 = 47th
|alongside1 = Debra Entenman
|term_start1 = December 1, 2022
|term_end1 =
|predecessor1 = Pat Sullivan
|successor1 =
|birth_date =
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democratic
|education = Williams College (BA)
Cornell University (JD)
}}
Chris Stearns is an American politician who is a Democratic member of the Washington Legislature representing the State's 47th House district for position 2.{{cite web |last1=Stearns |first1=Chris |url=https://twitter.com/stearnsauburn/status/1598365206362849280 |website=Twitter |access-date=2 December 2022}} He is a member of the Navajo nation.{{cite news |last1=Hyde |first1=David |title=Native representation to increase in Washington Legislature |url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/native-representation-to-increase-in-washington-legislature |access-date=2 December 2022 |publisher=KUOW |date=15 November 2022}} Before serving in the legislature, Stearns was the first tribal member to serve on the Auburn City Council.{{cite news |last1=Stewart-Wood |first1=Henry |title=Auburn Councilmember Chris Stearns announces run for 47th District House seat |url=https://www.kentreporter.com/news/auburn-councilmember-chris-stearns-announces-run-for-47th-district-house-seat/ |access-date=2 December 2022 |publisher=Kent Reporter |date=5 April 2022}}
Early life and career
Sterns graduated from Lawrenceville School.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-14 |title=47th District Rep.-elect Chris Stearns to step down from Auburn City Council |url=https://www.auburn-reporter.com/news/47th-legislative-district-representative-elect-chris-stearns-to-step-down-from-city-council/ |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=Auburn Reporter |language=en-US}} He earned a B.A. with honors in history from Williams College. He graduated with a Juris Doctor degree from Cornell Law School.
President Bill Clinton appointed Stearns as director of Indian affairs for the Department of Energy under Secretary Bill Richardson.{{cite web |title=Chris Stearns |url=https://www.auburnwa.gov/city_hall/city_councilmembers/chris_stearns |publisher=City of Auburn |access-date=2 December 2022}} Stearns served as chair of the Washington State Gambling Commission and a member of the City of Seattle's Human Rights Commission.{{cite news |last1=Wolf |first1=Jacob |title=Washington State Gambling Commission orders Valve to stop skins gambling |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/17723033/washington-state-gambling-commission-orders-valve-stop-skins-gambling |access-date=2 December 2022 |publisher=ESPN |date=5 October 2016}}
Elections
{{Election box begin no change | title=November 2022 State Representative Position 2 General election}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change||
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Chris Stearns
|votes = 27,057
|percentage = 63.73
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change||
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Shukri Olow
|votes = 13,196
|percentage = 31.08
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-wa-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=Tina Orwall}}
{{s-ttl|title=Speaker pro tempore of the Washington House of Representatives|years=2025–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{Statewide political officials of Washington}}
{{Speakers of U.S. lower houses}}
{{Washington House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stearns, Chris}}
Category:21st-century members of the Washington State Legislature
Category:Cornell Law School alumni
Category:Democratic Party members of the Washington House of Representatives