# Sam Reed

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Sam_Reed
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Sam_Reed.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Reed
> Source revision: 1353438913
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|14th Secretary of State of Washington}}
{{similar names|Samuel Reed (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
 | honorific_prefix   = 
 | name               = Sam Reed
 | image              = Sam Reed - Washington secretary of state.jpg
 | order1              = 14th
 | office1             = Secretary of State of Washington
 | term_start1        = January 10, 2001
 | term_end1           = January 16, 2013 
 | governor1 = [Gary Locke](/source/Gary_Locke) <br> [Christine Gregoire](/source/Christine_Gregoire) 
 | predecessor1        = [Ralph Munro](/source/Ralph_Munro)
 | successor1          = [Kim Wyman](/source/Kim_Wyman)
| office2             = Auditor of [Thurston County](/source/Thurston_County%2C_Washington)
| term_start2         = 1978
| term_end2           = 2000
| predecessor2        = Wesley Leach
| successor2          = [Kim Wyman](/source/Kim_Wyman)
|birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1941|1|10}}
|birth_place = [Portland, Oregon](/source/Portland%2C_Oregon), U.S.
|death_date  = 
|death_place = 
|party       = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States))
|spouse      = Margie Nichols
|children    = 2
|education   = [Washington State University](/source/Washington_State_University) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts), [MA](/source/Master_of_Arts))
|website     = 
}}

'''Sam Sumner Reed''' (born January 10, 1941) is an American politician who served as the 14th [Secretary of State of Washington](/source/Secretary_of_State_of_Washington) from 2001 to 2013. Reed is largely considered to be one of the most consequential state-level secretaries of state in American history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/oct/26/reed-named-top-public-official/|title=Reed named a top public official|date=October 26, 2009|website=Spokesman.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/jun/30/editorial-secretary-of-state-reed-leaves-legacy/|title=Editorial: Secretary of State Reed leaves legacy of service, action|date=June 30, 2011|website=Spokesman.com}}</ref>

Reed received his bachelor's and master's degrees in [political science](/source/political_science) from [Washington State University](/source/Washington_State_University). He was elected to the office of [Secretary of State in 2000](/source/2000_Washington_Secretary_of_State_election), as one of only two Republicans to be elected to statewide office that year, after serving as [Thurston County](/source/Thurston_County%2C_Washington) auditor.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://foley.wsu.edu/sam-reed-professorship/|title=Sam Reed Professorship &#124; The Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service &#124; Washington State University|website=foley.wsu.edu}}</ref>

==Early life==
Reed, whose family lived in Washington since territorial days, grew up in [Wenatchee](/source/Wenatchee%2C_Washington). His family later moved to [Spokane](/source/Spokane%2C_Washington) where Reed graduated from [Lewis and Clark High School](/source/Lewis_and_Clark_High_School).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blackfacts.com/fact/sam-reed-olympia-washington|title=Sam Reed, Olympia, Washington|website=Blackfacts.com}}</ref> He attended [Washington State University](/source/Washington_State_University), where he earned a bachelor's degree in social studies and master's degree in political science.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sos.wa.gov/legacy/stories/sam-reed/default.aspx|title=Sam Reed: An Autobiography - Legacy Washington - WA Secretary of State|website=www.sos.wa.gov}}</ref>

==Career==
A self-described [Rockefeller Republican](/source/Rockefeller_Republican),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.federalwaymirror.com/2017/02/07/republican-party-unrecognizable/|title=Republican Party unrecognizable|first=Wire|last=Service|date=February 7, 2017}}</ref> in 1969 he, along with other moderate to liberal Republicans [Chris Bayley](/source/Chris_Bayley) and [Daniel J. Evans](/source/Daniel_J._Evans) founded the Cascade Conference, a symposium made up of fellow "Mainstream Republicans" where which ultimately evolved into the political advocacy group, the [Mainstream Republicans of Washington](/source/Mainstream_Republicans_of_Washington), who continue to host annual Cascade Conferences to the present day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lynnwoodtimes.com/2022/07/27/mainstream-republicans-220727/|title=Mainstream Republicans of Washington names new chair|first=Lynnwood Times|last=Staff|date=July 28, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonmainstream.org/aboutmainstream|title=About|website=Mainstream Republicans of Washington}}</ref>

Prior to his service as Secretary of State, Reed was elected [Thurston County](/source/Thurston_County%2C_Washington) [Auditor](/source/County_auditor) five times and served as Washington's Assistant Secretary of State under [Lud Kramer](/source/Lud_Kramer) and [Bruce Chapman](/source/Bruce_Chapman). He was also appointed by governor [Daniel J. Evans](/source/Daniel_J._Evans) onto the Governor's Advisory Council on Urban Affairs.<ref name="auto"/>

Reed was first elected as [Washignton](/source/Washington_(state))'s [Secretary of State](/source/Secretary_of_state_(U.S._state_government)) in [2000](/source/2000_Washington_Secretary_of_State_election), narrowly defeating his [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) challenger, former Congressman and [Clark County](/source/Clark_County%2C_Washington) [Auditor](/source/County_auditor) [Don Bonker](/source/Don_Bonker), a [conservative Democrat](/source/conservative_Democrat),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/21/us/gop-chooses-gorton-democrats-race-is-close.html|title=G.O.P. Chooses Gorton; Democrats' Race Is Close|date=September 21, 1988|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2023/06/don-bonker-1937-2023.html|title=Don Bonker: 1937-2023|first=Joel|last=Connelly|date=June 2, 2023}}</ref> by just over 0.4%.

===Creation of the [Top-two primary system](/source/Nonpartisan_primary)===
====Background====
In June 2000, [California](/source/California)'s [blanket primary](/source/blanket_primary) system was ruled [unconstitutional](/source/unconstitutional) by the [United States Supreme Court](/source/United_States_Supreme_Court) in a landmark case, [California Democratic Party v. Jones](/source/California_Democratic_Party_v._Jones). It was said to be unconstitutional on the terms that "violated the political parties’ freedom of association." Washington State had adopted a similar blanket primary system in 1935, though after negotiations, the Washington primary system remained unchanged.<ref name="toptwo">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/data-research/history-laws-and-litigation/history-washington-state-primary|title=History of the Washington State Primary &#124; WA Secretary of State|website=www.sos.wa.gov}}</ref>

Both the [Republican Party](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) and the [Democratic Party](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) had longtime lobbied for the removal of the blanket primary system in order to gain more control over [primary elections](/source/Primary_election).<ref>https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/courts-once-again-slap-down-party-efforts-to-kill-washingtons-top-two-primary/M/</ref> As such, incumbent Secretary of State [Ralph Munro](/source/Ralph_Munro), Reed's [predecessor](/source/predecessor) began a series of hearings around the state to gather public input on potential changes to the blanket primary system.<ref name="toptwo"/> In 2001, the newly elected Reed released findings that Washington voters strongly favor retaining the blanket primary system.<ref name="toptwo"/> Consequently, the [statewide Democratic Party](/source/Democratic_Party_of_Washington_(state)) sued Reed, claiming the blanket primary to be unconstitutional, as in California. While Federal District Court in [Tacoma](/source/Tacoma%2C_Washington) upheld the primary, a later ruling in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found the blanket primary system unconstitutional.<ref name="toptwo"/>

====Bill, veto and later initiative====
Determined protect the voters of Washington State from political parties having control over elections, Reed used his powers as Secretary of State to sponsor legislation to create a new, top-two primary system, also known as a nonpartisan primary or jungle primary system. Unlike the unconstitutional blanket primary, which mandated that the top vote-getters from each party that is participating in the primary then advance to the general election, the top-two primary advocated that the top-two finishers, regardless of party, advance to the general election.<ref name="toptwo"/>

In March 2004, the legislation easily passed the [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States))-controlled [House](/source/Washington_House_of_Representatives) and [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States))-controlled [Senate](/source/Washington_State_Senate) in a bipartisan fashion.<ref name="toptwo"/> Governor [Gary Locke](/source/Gary_Locke) vetoed the bill, and lobbied members of his party not to vote to overrule the veto.<ref name="toptwo"/> Outraged, Reed co-ordinated with the Washington State Grange and other organizations to place an initiative on the November 2004 ballot to adopt the nonpartisan primary system.<ref name="toptwo"/>

Titled [Initiative 872](/source/2004_Washington_Initiative_872), the referendum to adopt the top-two primary won in a landslide victory of nearly 60%, winning every county. As a result, the [Washington State Republican Party](/source/Washington_State_Republican_Party) filed a lawsuit on May 19, 2005 to overturn the primary, with the [Washington State Democratic Party](/source/Washington_State_Democratic_Party) as a Plaintiff.<ref name="toptwo"/>

====Supreme Court ruling====
Consequently, on July 15 later that year, the [U.S. District Court](/source/United_States_district_court) struck down the primary system, ruling it as unconstitutional on the same grounds as the blanket primary system.<ref name="toptwo"/> The [United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals](/source/United_States_Ninth_Circuit_Court_of_Appeals) later affirmed this decision in August 2006. However, [Washington State Attorney General](/source/Washington_State_Attorney_General) [Rob McKenna](/source/Rob_McKenna), who represented Reed, the Grange and other associated organizations, appealed to the [United States Supreme Court](/source/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States).<ref name="toptwo"/> The Court agreed to hear oral arguments on October 1, 2007 in [Washington State Grange v. Washington State Republican Party](/source/Washington_State_Grange_v._Washington_State_Republican_Party). On March 18, 2008 the Supreme Court overturned the lower ruling by a 7-2 decision, thus reinstating the top-two primary system.

In 2008, Reed helped Washington State conduct the first top-two primary election in the country. It was later found to be extremely popular with Washington voters, having a 76% approval rating.<ref name="toptwo"/>

===Digital archives===
In 2004, he launched the nation's first state government digital archives to rescue disappearing electronic history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldnet.com/2004/10/10/states-digital-archive-opens/|title=State’s digital archive opens|first=Archive|last=Imports|date=October 11, 2004}}</ref> Following Washington's controversial gubernatorial race in 2004 (the closest such contest in U.S. history), Reed successfully pushed for several improvements to the state's voting process.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/reed-proposes-election-reforms/|title=Reed proposes election reforms|first=Rachel La|last=Corte|date=December 1, 2006|website=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

===Other work as Secretary of State===
As Secretary of State, Reed oversaw the controversial [2004 Washington gubernatorial election](/source/2004_Washington_gubernatorial_election) between [Dino Rossi](/source/Dino_Rossi) and [Christine Gregoire](/source/Christine_Gregoire).

Reed previously served as President of the [National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS)](/source/National_Association_of_Secretaries_of_State).<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Sam_Reed|title=Sam Reed|website=Ballotpedia}}</ref> He also served as an advisor to the [U.S. Election Assistance Commission](/source/Election_Assistance_Commission) from 2005 to 2007.<ref name="auto1"/>

===Retirement===
Reed retired as Secretary of State in 2012, endorsing his protégé, Republican [Thurston County](/source/Thurston_County%2C_Washington) [Auditor](/source/County_auditor), a position Reed himself once held, [Kim Wyman](/source/Kim_Wyman), to be his successor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattlepi.com/local/politics/article/Voters-decide-on-voting-Should-Washington-9220553.php|title=Endangered incumbent, endangered dynasty: Podlodowski presses Wyman|first=BY JOEL|last=CONNELLY|date=September 13, 2016|website=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> She would go on to win the [2012 election](/source/2012_Washington_Secretary_of_State_election) and serve until her resignation amid threats from fellow Republicans who spouted false claims that Wyman organized election fraud that caused President [Donald Trump](/source/Donald_Trump) and Republican nominee for governor [Loren Culp](/source/2020_Washington_gubernatorial_election) to lose the 2020 elections in the state.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/oct/26/wyman-to-resign-as-secretary-of-state-to-assume-el/|title=Wyman to resign as Secretary of State to assume election security lead in Biden Administration|date=October 26, 2021|website=Spokesman.com}}</ref>

In retirement, Reed continues to be active in his political advoacy group, the [Mainstream Republicans of Washington](/source/Mainstream_Republicans_of_Washington), including hosting the annual Cascade Conference. Additionally, Reed is a member of the Olympia Kiwanis Club<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://k00563.site.kiwanis.org/member-directory/|title=Member Directory – Kiwanis Club of Olympia}}</ref> and sits on the Washington State Historical Society Board of Trustees,<ref>https://www.washingtonhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/030515-olympia-minutes-1.pdf</ref> [TVW](/source/TVW)'s Board of Directors,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tvw.org/about/board-and-staff/|title=Board and Staff - TVW|date=November 3, 2021|website=tvw.org}}</ref> the YMCA Youth & Government Board, and the State Capitol Committee. He also chairs the advisory committee for the Sam Reed Distinguished Professorship in Civic Education and Public Civility at [Washington State University](/source/Washington_State_University) and serves on the advisory board for [Washington State University](/source/Washington_State_University)'s [Tom Foley](/source/Thomas_S._Foley) Institute for Public Policy.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://foley.wsu.edu/research/advisory-board/|title=Advisory board &#124; The Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service &#124; Washington State University|website=foley.wsu.edu}}</ref>

==2004 election==
{{Main|2004 Washington Secretary of State election}}
In 2004 Reed was re-elected by a relatively comfortable margin of about 6 percent. His opponents were [Laura Ruderman](/source/Laura_Ruderman), a state legislator, and Jacqueline Passey, a college student.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Sam Reed
| [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States))
| 1,369,421
| 51%
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Laura Ruderman
| [Democrat](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States))
| 1,209,299
| 45%
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Libertarian Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Jacqueline Passey
| [Libertarian](/source/Libertarian_Party_(United_States))
| 82,097
| 3%
|}

==2008 election==
{{main|2008 Washington Secretary of State election}}

In November 2008 Sam Reed ran for re-election against Democrat Jason Osgood and won with more than 58 percent of the vote statewide.

==Personal life==
Reed and his wife Margie reside at their home in [Olympia](/source/Olympia%2C_Washington). They have two adult children, David and Kristen, and two grandchildren.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sos.wa.gov/legacy/legacymakers/detail.aspx|title=Washington Legacymakers|website=www.sos.wa.gov}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.secstate.wa.gov/ Washington Secretary of State Homepage]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050303170311/http://www.samreed.org/ Sam Reed's Campaign Website]
* {{C-SPAN|64670}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box |
  before=[Ralph Munro](/source/Ralph_Munro) |title=[Secretary of State of Washington](/source/Secretary_of_State_of_Washington) |
  years=2001&ndash;2013 |
  after=[Kim Wyman](/source/Kim_Wyman)
}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reed, Sam}}
Category:County officials in Washington (state)
Category:American accountants
Category:Living people
Category:People from Wenatchee, Washington
Category:Secretaries of state of Washington (state)
Category:Washington (state) Republicans
Category:Washington State University alumni
Category:1941 births
Category:Politicians from Olympia, Washington

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sam Reed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Reed) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Reed?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.