Simon A. Sefzik (born December 21, 1999) is an American politician of the Republican Party who served as a member of the

Washington State Senate The Washington State Senate is the upper house of the Washington State Legislature. The body consists of 49 members, each representing a district with a population of nearly 160,000. The State Senate meets at the Washington State Capitol, Legis ...

from the 42nd district. He served in office from January 11, 2022 to December 9, 2022.

Early life and education

Sefzik was born in

Ferndale, Washington Ferndale is a city in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. The population was 15,048 at the 2020 census. and according to 2023 census estimates, the city is estimated to have a population of 15,992. Ferndale is the third largest city in ...

. He graduated ''

summa cum laude Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. The system is primarily used in the United States. It is also used in some Sout ...

'' with Highest Honors from

Patrick Henry College Patrick Henry College (PHC) is a private liberal arts non-denominational conservative Protestant Christian college located in Purcellville, Virginia. Its departments teach classical liberal arts, government, strategic intelligence in national se ...

, earning a

Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...

in Government with a concentration in American Politics and Policy. Prior to attending Patrick Henry College, Sefzik was a four-time national high school

forensics Forensic science combines principles of law and science to investigate criminal activity. Through crime scene investigations and laboratory analysis, forensic scientists are able to link suspects to evidence. An example is determining the time and ...

champion. While in college, he competed for the

moot court Moot court is a co-curricular activity at many law schools. Participants take part in simulated court or arbitration proceedings, usually involving drafting memorials or memoranda and participating in oral argument. In many countries, the phrase ...

team at Patrick Henry.

Career

A member of the Republican Party, Sefzik served as an

intern An internship is a period of work experience offered by an organization for a limited period of time. Once confined to medical graduates, internship is used to practice for a wide range of placements in businesses, non-profit organizations and g ...

in the office of

Congressman A member of congress (MOC), also known as a congressman or congresswoman, is a person who has been appointed or elected and inducted into an official body called a congress, typically to represent a particular constituency in a legislature. The t ...

Ted Budd Theodore Paul Budd (born October 21, 1971) is an American businessman and politician serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, junior United States Senate, United States senator for North Carolina since 2023. A member of the Republica ...

and in the

White House Office The White House Office is an entity within the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP). The White House Office is headed by the White House chief of staff, who is also the head of the Executive Office of the President. The st ...

during the

first Trump Administration Donald Trump's first tenure as the president of the United States began on January 20, 2017, when Trump First inauguration of Donald Trump, was inaugurated as the List of presidents of the United States, 45th president, and ended on January ...

. Sefzik was a staffer in the

Executive Office of the President The Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP) comprises the offices and agencies that support the work of the president at the center of the executive branch of the United States federal government. The office consists o ...

. On January 11, 2022, after the death of Washington state Senator Doug Ericksen, Sefzik was selected by the

Whatcom County Council The Whatcom County Council, the legislative body of Whatcom County, Washington, consists of seven members, five elected by district and two elected at-large, at large. The Council adopts laws, sets policy, and holds final approval over the budge ...

to finish Senator Ericksen's term. With his appointment at age 22, Sefzik became the youngest member of the Washington State Senate. In the Washington Senate, Sefzik was a member of the Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee, the Health & Long Term Care Committee, and the Housing & Local Government Committee. Sefzik's policy focus areas included agriculture, affordability, fiscal responsibility, public safety, and flood relief for Whatcom Country residents. Sefzik's candidacy was endorsed by the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs, Washington Fraternal Order of Police, Washington Food Industry Association, Washington Hospitality Association, Whatcom County Association of Realtors, Inland Pacific Associated Builders and Contractors, Building Industry Association of Washington, Washington State Young Republicans, Laborers Local 292, Operating Engineers 302, Associated General Contractors of Washington Build PAC, Washington

National Federation of Independent Business The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is an association of small businesses in the United States. It is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, with offices in Washington, D.C., and all 50 state capitals. The stated goal of NFIB ...

, Washington Hunters Heritage Council, Association of Washington Business, Washington State Farm Bureau PAC, and the Washington Retail Association. On February 9, 2022, Sefzik announced his intent to retain the seat in the 2022 election. He advanced from the top-two primary with 33.2% of the vote, finishing second among three candidates. In the general election, Sefzik lost to Democratic

State Representative A state legislature is a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. Two federations literally use the term "state legislature": * The legislative branches of each of the fifty state governments of the United St ...

Sharon Shewmake by 0.8%.

References

1999 births Living people Republican Party Washington (state) state senators Patrick Henry College alumni 21st-century members of the Washington State Legislature {{Washington-WASenate-stub