Pasco Councilwoman Resigns to Run for GOP State Senate Seat

Due to boundary changes, and her filing to run for State Senate, a  Pasco City Councilwoman will vacate her seat after only serving 4 months.

Councilwoman Nikki Torres was elected last fall to Pasco District 3

Torres made her announcement effective May 31st, this week, and it comes as long-time 15th District State Senate Republican 'legend' Jim Honeyford of Sunnyside announced he is retiring.  Torres had first indicated she would run against him in the primary, but now with Honeyford not seeking another term, Torres will run for his spot unopposed by anyone in the Republican party.

   According to sources, Honeyford has officially endorsed Torres' campaign. 

Get our free mobile app

She resigned from the council because she recently moved outside of the District she represents within the city and because her new home is in the expanded 15th legislative area.

   State officials have moved boundary lines for several legislative districts.

  The 15th State Legislative District now includes eastern Yakima County and has been expanded to include a little bit of Benton, and some of Franklin County including the southern part of Pasco.  Torres now lives in the 15th.  In Pasco, the district she represented was the northeast part of the city, from Convention Drive in the west to past Highway 395 in the east and north of Interstate 182.

Torres, according to reports, felt it was best to have someone on the Council who lives in District 3, rather than try to represent the area while living outside of it.