Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman will join the Biden Administration as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) senior election security lead.

Wyman is the only Republican currently holding a statewide office in Washington.

As an expert on elections and experienced secretary of state, her appointment speaks to the agency’s dedication to working with election officials throughout the nation in a nonpartisan manner to ensure the security and resilience of our election infrastructure, according to a Oct. 26 press release from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

“Kim’s reputation is second to none and I am personally thrilled to have her lead CISA’s election security efforts,” said CISA Director Jen Easterly. “Her decades of experience, unparalleled expertise, and unimpeachable integrity have earned her bipartisan respect at every level of government.”

Wyman is Washington’s 15th secretary of state. First elected in 2012, she is only the second woman to serve as secretary of state in Washington’s history. Prior to being elected to this office, she served as Thurston County elections director for nearly a decade and served three terms as the elected Thurston County auditor (2001-2013).

“I am honored to be able to share nearly three decades of experience and expertise to support CISA’s efforts to safeguard our election systems from cyber-attacks and enhance the public’s confidence in our elections,” Wyman said in the press release. “As I assume this new role, I remain committed to protecting the integrity of our elections and working closely with local and state elections officials nationwide to bolster this foundational pillar of our democracy.”

Voters elected Wyman secretary of state in 2012 and reelected her in 2016 and 2020.

Gov. Jay Inslee released a statement Oct. 26 on Wyman’s decision to lead the Department of Homeland Security’s efforts to protect future elections from foreign and domestic interference.

“I spoke to Kim earlier today and congratulated her on her appointment,” Inslee said. “She has remained independent in the face of partisan challenges and has always done what was best for the strength of our democracy.

“I remember watching Kim certify the 2020 election results last December on the floor of the state Senate. When confronted with the choice of adopting election lies being promulgated by powerful forces in her party, Kim chose to stand by the will of the people. We are a stronger state because of Kim’s endeavors.

“She is a great fit to lead these crucial efforts at the national level and I have no doubt that her expertise, energy and focus will lead to more secure elections and help restore faith in the democratic process.

“I will appoint her replacement in the coming weeks, and I believe that regardless of who it is, they will continue the vital work that Kim and her staff have put in place.”