News coverage from major Washington outlets, press releases from the campaign, and Judge Dave Larson’s own commentary — collected here as the race for Position 5 on the Washington State Supreme Court unfolds.
Official statements about the Larson for Justice campaign — from the campaign itself and from organizations supporting the candidacy.
Former Federal Way Municipal Court Judge Backed by Forward Party to preserve the integrity and independence of the judiciary
SEATTLE, WA — May 28, 2026 — The Forward Party today announced its endorsement of Dave Larson for Washington State Supreme Court, Position 5. In backing Larson, the Forward Party is making a clear statement that Washington voters deserve to have the most qualified candidate sit as a justice on their highest court, not the Governor’s hand-picked selection.
The seat Larson is seeking is currently occupied by Theo Angelis, who was appointed by Governor Bob Ferguson in March 2026, the Governor’s second appointment to the Washington State Supreme Court in less than a year. Washington voters will now face a November ballot in which the incumbent justice is not someone they elected.
The Forward Party believes this is the kind of arrangement that erodes public trust in the independence of the judiciary and is precisely why this race matters. Voters should choose who sits on the state’s highest court, and Dave Larson has earned that choice.
He served as a Federal Way Municipal Court judge for 18 years, was a well-respected trial lawyer for 23 years, is a leader in criminal justice reform, was recognized statewide for his work on judicial independence, and received the 2018 DMCJA President’s Award for efforts that helped inspire the formation of Washington’s Council on Independent Courts. As an attorney, he earned an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible peer review distinction.
“Dave Larson has spent his career protecting judicial independence and serving his community. He represents the best of what independent, accountable leadership looks like,” said Christine Todd Whitman, Co-Chair of the Forward Party and former New Jersey Governor. “When a governor makes back-to-back appointments to the state’s highest court, it raises real questions about whose interests the court is meant to serve. Washington voters deserve a voice in that answer.”
Forward supports leaders who put the rule of law ahead of political loyalty and believe that courts should be accountable to voters, not to the politicians who appoint them. Larson reflects those values.
“The Forward Party exists because Americans are tired of a system that serves itself instead of the people it is supposed to represent,” said Andrew Yang, Co-Chair of the Forward Party. “Dave Larson is exactly the kind of candidate the Forward Party was created to support, and we are proud to stand behind him.”
Backing leaders who reflect more representative politics, The Forward Party believes in a system where problem-solving matters more than party labels, where elected officials are accountable to the people they serve, and where the independence of our courts is protected, not politicized. The Forward Party is building a national movement to support independent-minded leaders and expand choices for voters across the country. More information is available at forwardparty.com/candidates.
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The Forward Party is bringing moderates, conservatives, and progressives together to heal our political divisions, find our shared ground, and create a brighter future for America. Forward Party candidates are accountable to the voters, and they will focus on solutions, not partisan fighting, in order to serve their constituents better.
Former Federal Way Municipal Court Judge launches 2026 campaign for Position 5 following Justice Barbara Madsen’s retirement
SEATTLE, WA — Judge Dave Larson (Retired) officially announced his campaign for Position 5 on the Washington State Supreme Court today, following the retirement announcement of Justice Barbara Madsen. Larson enters the race with massive statewide momentum, having earned over 1.6 million votes and coming within 0.61% of a seat on the state’s highest court in 2024.
After serving 18 years as a trial judge, Larson is coming out of a short retirement driven by a deep sense of duty to the people of Washington.
“In discussions with people about the direction our Court is taking, I decided that I just can’t walk away at this time,” said Judge Larson. “There is too much work left to do when it comes to making the court system more responsive to the needs of the people of our state. I want to be the voice of common sense on the Supreme Court so we can build a justice system that can be trusted by our trial judges and the people of this state to make decisions based on solid legal principles and what works for our communities.”
A Proven Leader in Criminal Justice Reform
On the issue of public safety, Larson has been a leader in implementing effective solutions. “We don’t need to be tougher or softer on crime; we need to be smarter on crime,” Larson noted. A recognized national leader in reform, in retirement he will be helping communities across the nation better respond to crime through proven effective strategies.
Restoring Trust in Government
Larson is also a recognized leader in civics education and is an advocate for changing the way we elect judges. He has proposed a process that will make judicial elections more understandable and meaningful for voters. He believes his candidacy arrives at a symbolic moment for the nation as we navigate through these times of conflict and discord during the year we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
“I want to breathe life into the principles of justice, fairness, and government accountability to the people as we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence,” Larson added. “We need to find ways to come together to solve the problems we face, and the justice system should be the model by resolving the disputes we see in court in a way that shows us that we can all pursue life, liberty, and happiness peacefully together.”
For more information or to support the campaign, visit larsonforjustice.com.
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Op-eds, opinion columns, letters to the editor, and official statements written by Judge Dave Larson.
A retirement column written as Dave concluded his tenure on the Federal Way Municipal Court bench — thanking the city, Mayor, City Council, and the staff who made the work possible over nearly two decades.
Read the full pieceWith his retirement from the Federal Way Municipal Court, Dave wrote directly to the community about the importance of choosing his successor carefully — making the case for an experienced, independent judiciary at every level of the court system.
Read the full piecePublished in the Seattle Times, this op-ed called for separation-of-powers discipline and a return to normal governing principles — arguing that the Supreme Court had exceeded its appropriate constitutional role. A foundational piece for understanding Dave's judicial philosophy on institutional restraint.
Read the full pieceA letter responding to the Federal Way Mirror's editorial board, in which Dave clarified the record and cited his broad, bipartisan endorsement coalition — including the Seattle Times and the Tri-City Herald — as evidence of the cross-aisle trust he had built as a candidate and jurist.
Read the full pieceDave's official candidate statement from the 2016 Washington State Voters' Guide, submitted for the Supreme Court Position 6 race. An on-the-record statement of his qualifications, values, and judicial philosophy — preserved in the official state election record.
Read the full piecePress coverage of Judge Dave Larson’s campaigns and judicial work.
Interview-based profile highlighting his "repair shop, not a junkyard" judicial philosophy and his case for independent, nonpartisan courts.
Read the full articleAnnouncement of his 2026 Position 5 campaign, noting his 1.6M+ votes in 2024 and his post-retirement return to the race.
Read the full articleNeutral reporting on late ballot tabulation in the Larson–Mungia race, one of the closest Supreme Court contests in recent Washington history.
Read the full articleFavorable framing of Larson's competitiveness, noting his strength in a statewide race across deeply blue Washington.
Read the full articleElection-night reporting with Larson holding 49.78% — within a fraction of a point of the seat.
Read the full articleProfile highlighting his Washington Council of Police & Sheriffs endorsement, civics education work, and nearly two decades on the bench.
Read the full articleElection-night report with Larson leading at 49.8% — the closest the seat has come to flipping in years.
Read the full articleBalanced comparison of both candidates; Larson quoted on wanting to "keep politics out of the judicial system."
Read the full articlePPP polling showing Larson at 14% to Mungia's 10% among decided voters — a favorable early data point.
Read the full articleBalanced profile featuring Larson's signature "repair shop, not a junkyard" philosophy on judicial reform.
Read the full articlePre-primary analysis highlighting his municipal-court experience as a key differentiator in the race.
Read the full articleIn-depth interview-based profile on his therapeutic justice philosophy, DMCJA leadership, and approach to court reform.
Read the full articleLong-form video interview on judicial philosophy and reform. Kruse publicly endorsed Larson — one of only two endorsements she made that election cycle.
Read the full articleFeature on his readers' poll win as Federal Way's "Best City Leader," with a Q&A on his career and community-court reforms.
Read the full articleCoverage of Larson's Seattle Times op-ed on separation of powers and the governor's vaccine mandate — praising his call for institutional restraint.
Read the full articleNeutral polling coverage of the Montoya-Lewis–Larson race for Position 3.
Read the full articleMajor editorial endorsement praising his "sophisticated policy understanding," innovative court reforms, "deep community respect," and nuanced McCleary views.
Read the full articleFeature on Larson receiving the Judge William Nevins Award from the Washington Judges' Foundation — nominated by then-Chief Justice Barbara Madsen, who called him a "pioneer" in youth education.
Read the full articleAppointment coverage in which Federal Way City Manager Beets said: "We are not going to see anybody with higher quality than David Larson."
Read the full article