Governor-elect Bob Ferguson has selected 34th district Sen. Joe Nguyễn to head the Washington State Department of Commerce.
Ferguson announced Nguyễn’s appointment to his executive cabinet on Thursday, Dec. 26. He’ll start the new job on Jan. 15.
“Senator Nguyễn brings a strong record on fighting to improve the lives of Washingtonians to this critical agency,” Ferguson said in a statement. “I know he will help ensure state government works better for the people.”
Nguyễn, a West Seattle resident whose district includes Vashon, West Seattle, White Center and parts of Burien, was first elected to the senate in 2018. A Democrat, he mounted a bold but ultimately unsuccessful run for King County Executive against incumbent Dow Constantine in 2021 and won re-election to the Senate in 2022 with 86.1% of the vote.
In December 2022, Democrats in the Senate named Nguyễn chair of the Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee. He is also vice chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee.
The Department of Commerce oversees community and economic development across the state and works with businesses, local governments, Tribes and community organizations. It manages a budget of $7.9 billion and promotes access to housing, energy, broadband and other community needs.
Commerce is a common source of grants for community projects — as an example, funding from the department helped affordable housing nonprofit Vashon HouseHold finish constructing its 40-unit Island Center Homes development in December.
Nguyễn said he’s excited to work directly at an agency with which, in the legislature, his work so often intersected.
“Commerce is like the front door of government, right?” Nguyễn told The Beachcomber. “Oftentimes, when you have to interact with government, it’s not a good thing … Commerce is one agency … [where] the main goal is to help people across Washington state. So it’s a very exciting opportunity.”
Nguyễn has made frequent trips to Vashon in his six years as senator, speaking at panels about transportation and housing needs, paying visits to grade school civic students and more.
“I still remember the first debates … when I was running for office, going out there, people being very skeptical and asking very tough questions, and quickly, when they realized that I was a serious candidate, they were so welcoming and supportive as well,” Nguyễn said. “So the fact that people gave me a shot on Vashon, that voters there have been so engaged and thoughtful, has been a true honor.”
There’s more work to be done on the island around affordable housing, he said, both in the legislature and through direct funding support from the Commerce department.
In 2020, Nguyễn sponsored a bill tying Washington to California’s vehicle emission rules. In 2021, he sponsored the senate companion of a bill to finally fund the Working Families Tax Credit, which was signed into law in 2008 and provides tax relief for those with low and moderate incomes.
In 2024, Nguyễn was the prime sponsor behind SB 6058, an effort to merge Washington’s carbon emission market with California’s and Quebec’s. He also sponsored attempts to regulate the oil industry, prohibit campaign contributions and expenditures by “foreign-influenced corporations,” boost pay for school board members; and compel large fashion companies to create and disclose plans for reducing emissions and using more recycled materials.
As chair of the Environment, Energy and Technology committee, Nguyễn was also an advocate for the state’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA), a cap-and-trade law. Washington voters decisively rejected a ballot initiative in November that would have repealed the CCA.
As Commerce director, Nguyễn will succeed Mike Fong, who is taking a new role as the executive director for economic development for Snohomish County.
Nguyễn’s legislative term ends in January 2027, and must be filled through a replacement process. The King County Council will approve his replacement.
