Rick Larsen

Rick Larsen
Born	Richard Ray Larsen 15 6, 1965
Birthplace	Arlington, Washington, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	U.S. Representative for Washington's 2nd congressional district; Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Education	Pacific Lutheran University (BA) University of Minnesota (MPA)
Children	2
Website	[[larsen.house.gov larsen.house.gov] Official site]

Richard Ray Larsen (born June 15, 1965) is an American politician who has served as the U.S. Representative for Washington's 2nd congressional district since January 2001. A member of the Democratic Party, Larsen has built a lengthy career in Congress representing the northwestern corner of Washington state, an area that encompasses communities stretching from the northern suburbs of Seattle to the Canadian border. Before entering federal office, he served on the Snohomish County Council, representing the 1st district from 1998 to 2001. In Congress, Larsen rose to become the ranking member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, a position he has held since January 2023. Throughout his tenure, Larsen has focused on transportation infrastructure, trade policy, environmental protection, and healthcare, representing a district with significant ties to international commerce and the aerospace industry.

Early Life

Richard Ray Larsen was born on June 15, 1965, in Arlington, Washington, a small city in Snohomish County in the northwestern part of the state. Arlington, situated along the Stillaguamish River in the foothills of the Cascade Range, was a community rooted in agriculture and timber during Larsen's youth. He grew up in the region that he would later represent in Congress, giving him deep personal ties to the district's communities, industries, and landscapes.

Details about Larsen's family background and childhood remain limited in publicly available sources. What is documented is that he remained rooted in the Pacific Northwest for much of his early life, attending college in Tacoma, Washington, before pursuing graduate education in the Midwest.

Education

Larsen earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Pacific Lutheran University, a private university affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Tacoma, Washington. He subsequently obtained a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Minnesota, equipping him with graduate-level training in public policy and governance. His academic background in public administration provided a foundation for his later career in local and federal government.

Career

Snohomish County Council

Before entering Congress, Larsen served as a member of the Snohomish County Council, representing the 1st district. He took office on January 1, 1998, succeeding John Garner in the position. During his time on the county council, Larsen gained experience in local governance, addressing issues related to land use, transportation, and public services in one of Washington state's most populous counties. He served on the council until January 3, 2001, when he was succeeded by Mike Ashley upon his election to the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives

Election to Congress

Larsen was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000, winning the seat for Washington's 2nd congressional district and succeeding Republican incumbent Jack Metcalf, who did not seek reelection. He took office on January 3, 2001. The 2nd congressional district of Washington encompasses a large and geographically diverse area in the northwestern part of the state, including Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County, San Juan County, and portions of Snohomish County. The district includes communities such as Bellingham, Everett, Mount Vernon, and the San Juan Islands, and it borders Canada to the north.

Since his initial election, Larsen has been reelected to the seat in every subsequent cycle. The district, while competitive in Larsen's early races, has generally trended toward the Democratic Party over time. In the 2006 election cycle, Larsen faced a credible challenge but retained his seat. He has continued to represent the district through multiple redistricting cycles, maintaining his position as one of Washington state's longest-serving Democratic members of the House delegation.

Transportation and Infrastructure

Larsen's most prominent role in Congress has been his work on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He rose through the committee's ranks over more than two decades in Congress, ultimately becoming its ranking member — the top Democrat on the committee — in January 2023, succeeding Sam Graves in the leadership position as the committee's minority leader.

As ranking member, Larsen has focused on securing federal investments in infrastructure projects for his district and the broader state of Washington. In 2025, Larsen voted in favor of Fiscal Year 2026 spending bills, highlighting the local jobs and infrastructure investments contained in the legislation. In a statement following the vote, he emphasized the importance of federal funding for infrastructure in Washington's 2nd congressional district.

In December 2025, Larsen introduced bipartisan legislation alongside Representative Burgess Owens to support transportation infrastructure for cities hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The bill reflected Larsen's focus on leveraging major events to drive investment in transportation systems. This bipartisan effort exemplified his willingness to work across party lines on transportation policy.

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's jurisdiction encompasses a wide range of federal policy areas, including highways, transit, rail, aviation, water resources, pipelines, the Coast Guard, and FEMA. Larsen's leadership role on the committee has given him significant influence over legislation affecting the nation's physical infrastructure.

Trade Policy and Tariffs

Given the 2nd congressional district's proximity to the Canadian border and its economic dependence on international trade, Larsen has been an active voice on trade policy throughout his congressional career. The district's economy includes significant agricultural exports, maritime commerce, and ties to the global aerospace supply chain through Boeing's presence in the region.

In February 2026, Larsen applauded a Supreme Court decision striking down tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. In his statement, Larsen expressed support for the court's action, framing it as providing economic relief to constituents affected by the tariffs. His stance on tariffs has been consistent with his broader focus on supporting the trade-dependent economy of his district.

Healthcare

Healthcare has been a recurring focus of Larsen's legislative work. He has advocated for expanded healthcare access for his constituents and has taken positions on major healthcare legislation during his time in Congress. The specifics of his healthcare positions have reflected the priorities of a district with both urban medical centers and rural communities with limited access to healthcare services.

Iraq War

During the Iraq War era, Larsen addressed the conflict as a significant policy issue. He maintained a public position on the war and communicated his views to constituents through his congressional office. The war was a defining issue for many members of Congress during the 2000s, and Larsen's position was a factor in his reelection campaigns during that period.

Environmental Policy

Representing a district that includes the San Juan Islands, the Puget Sound, portions of the Cascade Range, and significant agricultural lands, Larsen has maintained a focus on environmental protection throughout his congressional tenure. In February 2026, he issued a statement condemning the Trump administration's rollback of climate regulations, stating that protecting Washington state's environment was a top priority. His environmental advocacy has aligned with the interests of a district where fishing, agriculture, tourism, and outdoor recreation are economically significant.

Immigration and Federal Accountability

In 2026, Larsen released a statement regarding the Fiscal Year 2026 funding package, in which he rejected elements of the Trump administration's policy agenda and called for accountability from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His stance reflected broader Democratic criticisms of immigration enforcement practices during the Trump administration.

Veterans Affairs

Larsen has demonstrated an ongoing interest in supporting veterans in his district. In February 2026, he announced the establishment of an annual "Valentines for Veterans" drive, designed to connect community members with veterans through the distribution of valentines. The initiative was described as the first annual effort of its kind from his office. Washington's 2nd congressional district is home to Naval Station Everett and other military installations, making veterans' issues a significant concern for the district's constituents.

Legislative Record and Bipartisanship

Larsen's voting record and policy positions have been documented by multiple nonpartisan organizations. Vote Smart has tracked his voting record across a range of policy categories, as well as interest group ratings and campaign finance information. His introduction of bipartisan legislation, such as the World Cup transportation bill with Representative Owens, reflects an approach that has at times sought to bridge partisan divides on infrastructure policy.

Personal Life

Rick Larsen has two children. He has maintained his connection to the Pacific Northwest throughout his life, having been born in Arlington, Washington, and continuing to represent the region in Congress for over two decades. Beyond the publicly documented facts of his family life, Larsen has kept personal details relatively private, focusing his public presence on his legislative and constituent service work.

Recognition

Larsen's career in Congress has spanned more than two decades, during which he has risen to become one of the senior Democratic members of the Washington state congressional delegation. His position as ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, one of the largest committees in Congress, represents the most significant leadership role of his career. The committee oversees legislation affecting virtually every mode of transportation in the United States, as well as water resources, the Coast Guard, and emergency management.

His legislative work has been recognized through interest group ratings tracked by nonpartisan organizations, reflecting his positions on a wide array of policy issues. Over more than a dozen terms in Congress, Larsen has established himself as a consistent advocate for infrastructure investment, environmental protection, and trade policy favorable to the economy of the Pacific Northwest.

Legacy

As one of the longest-serving members of Washington state's congressional delegation, Rick Larsen has been a consistent presence in the politics of the Pacific Northwest since the early 2000s. His tenure has spanned significant periods in American political life, from the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, through the Iraq War, the Great Recession, the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing debates over trade, infrastructure, and environmental policy.

Larsen's rise to the top Democratic position on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee places him among the most influential members of Congress on issues related to the nation's physical infrastructure. The committee's broad jurisdiction means that Larsen's influence extends to legislation affecting highways, bridges, transit systems, airports, waterways, rail, pipelines, and disaster response across the country.

His representation of a district that borders Canada and depends heavily on international trade has shaped his emphasis on trade policy and cross-border commerce. The presence of major aerospace manufacturing facilities in the region, as well as significant agricultural operations, fishing industries, and military installations, has required Larsen to balance a diverse set of constituent interests over the course of his career.

Larsen's career trajectory — from the Snohomish County Council to two decades in the House of Representatives — reflects a path through local governance to federal policymaking that has allowed him to maintain close ties to the communities he represents while building influence in Washington, D.C.