Joe Fain

Early life and education

Fain was born and raised in King County, Washington. Both of Fain's parents were public school teachers. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Washington and later earned a Juris Doctor and Masters of Business Administration from Seattle University.

Career

Fain coached high school swimming in the Renton and Highline School Districts and was recognized as the 2002 "Washington State Swim Coach of the Year."

Fain previously served as the chief of staff for King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer, who represents the 7th District that includes much of South and Southeast King County.

In 2008, Fain sponsored a successful initiative that sought to break through hyper-partisanship in King County government. Initiative 26 was supported by The Seattle Times, The Seattle PI, the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and the Municipal League of King County. It passed with 56% of the vote, making the offices of King County Executive, Council, and Assessor nonpartisan.

Washington Senate

Fain was the youngest elected member of the Washington State Senate and served on the Senate's Transportation, Early Learning and K-12 Education, and Financial Institutions, Housing and Insurance committees. Fain also served as vice-chair the Legislative Evaluations and Accountable Program which is the legislature's source of budget data and analysis.

Prior to the 2013 session, Fain was elected as the Senate's majority floor leader and named to the Senate majority's leadership team, transportation budget leadership cabinet and Rules Committee.

In 2011, Fain worked with fellow South King County lawmakers to allocate funding to the King County Flood Control District for repairing homes and businesses damaged during extended flooding. In 2012, he secured additional money in the state's capital construction budget for the Briscoe and Desimone levees.

Fain has also worked to secure transportation funding for new infrastructure throughout South King County aimed at increasing road capacity and improving freight mobility. The 2011 and 2012 transportation budgets included money for major thoroughfares like I-5, I-405, SR 167 and SR 18, in addition to surface street maintenance and safety improvements in Kent, Auburn and Covington.

In 2013, Fain spearheaded an effort to restore funding for state food assistance, which provides grocery money for low-income immigrant families. By working with Democratic and Republican colleagues he was able to secure an additional $9 million in the new state budget to increase benefits by 50 percent.

As majority floor leader, Fain was also successful at bringing the Safe Streets Bill up for a vote ahead of a deadline for passing legislation. The measure makes it simpler for cities to reduce speed limits on neighborhood streets, greatly improving public safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and other motorists.

The Legislature improved security at Washington's courthouses through a plan co-sponsored and advocated by Fain. The bill increased the penalty for assault on courthouse property and allows judges to consider the location during sentencing. Fain worked with colleagues in the Legislature and Washington's Attorney General Bob Ferguson to enact the changes.

A temporary increase of the state's business and occupation and beer tax was scheduled to end in June 2013, but Washington's governor and House of Representatives proposed making these permanent. With improving revenues and a growing state economy Fain worked with colleagues and stakeholders to ensure the increases ended as scheduled, reducing the burden on small- and medium-sized businesses statewide.

Post-electoral career

After losing reelection, he was selected as the CEO of the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce in 2019. In 2025, he lost a bid to join the board of directors for public news radio station KUOW.

Controversies

Sexual assault allegation

On September 28, 2018, a Seattle resident alleged via Twitter that Fain had raped her. Governor Jay Inslee responded to the claims, stating, "this is a very serious allegation that unquestionably deserves a full investigation by law enforcement officials." After the November general election, plans for an investigation were announced, despite Fain's defeat by opponent Mona Das. The investigation was suspended in December 2018.

Redistricting commission

In February 2021, Senate Republican leaders appointed Fain to the state's redistricting commission which drew criticism from groups representing women and sexual assault survivors due the sexual assault allegations against him in the past. The groups co-signed an open letter calling for Fain's resignation from the commission until a proper investigation to the allegations are conducted and called for the commission to adopt codes of conduct "to ensure a safe and respectful environment for the public, staff, and Commissioners." In April 2021, Fain responded that he wouldn't resign and remained on the commission.

Personal life

Fain lives in Auburn, Washington, with his wife Steffanie and their two children.

References

References

1. (2008-06-15). "Commencement". Seattle University.
2. (January 1, 2011). "Candidate: Joe Fain". Our Campaigns.
3. "Find Your Legislator". App.leg.wa.gov.
4. (2010-11-05). "Election update: Fain unseats Kauffman; Roach trounces Richardson". Auburn Reporter.
5. "Senate Leadership". Leg.wa.gov.
6. (2018-11-06). "November 6, 2018 General Election". King County Elections.
7. "Bio — Joe Fain for Senate". Votefain.com.
8. "ONE-ON-ONE: Joe Fain, Republican Candidate for Washington State Senate « Northwest Digest".
9. (2010-01-21). "Joe Fain to run in 47th". Renton Reporter.
10. "King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer". Kingcounty.gov.
11. "Editorials / Opinion". Seattle Times.
12. (2008-08-08). "Editorials & Opinion | I-26: Make King County offices nonpartisan | Seattle Times Newspaper". Seattletimes.com.
13. (2011-01-10). "Fain takes oath of office, named deputy Republican leader on transportation committee - Senator Joe Fain". Joefain.src.wastateleg.org.
14. "LEAP| About". Leap.leg.wa.gov.
15. (2012-11-29). "Fain elected to leadership post in state Senate". Auburn Reporter.
16. (2011-03-04). "Keiser-Fain bill to continue Green River flood protection efforts passes Senate". Auburn Reporter.
17. (2012-04-20). "Sen. Fain helps secure funding for levees along the Green River in Kent". Kent Reporter.
18. (9 March 2012). "Sen. Fain of Auburn shaping transportation budget that supports South King County". Auburn Reporter.
19. (2013-08-15). "Children's Alliance recognizes Sen. Fain for work on childhood hunger". Auburn Reporter.
20. Safe, Neighborhood. (2013-04-17). "Neighborhood Safe Streets Passes Washington State Senate 45-2 | Washington BikesWashington Bikes". Bicyclealliance.org.
21. (2013-03-13). "Ferguson's courthouse security measure passes Senate". Atg.wa.gov.
22. "Final 2013 report".
23. McNamara, Neal. (2019-02-15). "Bellevue Chamber's New CEO Is Joe Fain, Lawmaker Accused Of Rape".
24. Smith, Catharine. (2025-09-04). "Former state senator accused of rape rejected in bid to join KUOW board".
25. (September 28, 2018). "Seattle woman publicly accuses Washington Sen. Joe Fain of rape". MyNorthwest.
26. (September 28, 2018). "Seattle woman says state Sen. Joe Fain raped her in 2007; Fain denies allegation". The News Tribune.
27. (September 28, 2018). "Senator Joe Fain is 'a man of principal,' colleague says after rape accusations". Associated Press.
28. (September 28, 2018). "A Woman Accused a Prominent Washington State Senator of Raping Her. She Says She Was Inspired By Christine Blasey Ford's Testimony.". Slate.
29. (2018-11-14). "Investigation into rape claims against Sen. Fain will continue". King5 News.
30. (December 4, 2018). "Senate investigation into rape allegation against Washington state Sen. Joe Fain suspended". Seattle Times.
31. Santos, Melissa. (10 February 2021). "Groups denounce selection of Joe Fain to redistricting commission {{!}} Crosscut".
32. Brunner, Jim. (2021-04-05). "Controversy reignites over past rape allegation after Washington GOP leader picks former Sen. Joe Fain for panel".