On voting record, Rep. Paul Graves rated “most independent” among state lawmakers
According to the data group WhipStat, which analyzes the voting records of all Washington state legislators, no lawmaker in the 2017 regular session had a more independent voting record than Rep. Paul Graves, R-Fall City.
For its study, WhipStat calculated a partisanship score for each floor vote based on the Republican and Democrat support it received. An individual lawmaker's aggregate score is the average of their 'yes' and 'no' vote scores.
“I'm proud of my score,” said Graves. “I work hard to study the bills under consideration, scrutinize them on their merits, and vote according to principle. This score reflects that hard work.”
The analysis was developed by former state Rep. Chad Magendanz, who spent more than 20 years working for Microsoft. According to Magendanz, a push for increased transparency drove him to compile the research and publish his findings.
“Discrepancies between campaign rhetoric and actual voting records are disingenuous and dangerous,” said Magendanz. “The public is losing faith in their elected officials and they deserve to know the truth. Not surveys of intentions, but an objective analysis of how they actually vote.”
Graves says he hopes Washingtonians will use this tool to ensure promises made by legislators are being kept.
“I set out to be an independent voice for East King County, and I believe my record shows my commitment to that promise,” he said.
WhipStat's website offers the voting scores of all Washington legislators from 2003 through the end of the 2017 regular session. Data may be organized by biennium, chamber, and issue area. WhipStat is independently managed and does not receive funding from any party or interest group.
