White Papers Policy Institute: The Great Replacement in Washington State

Since I live next door in Idaho, this is worrisome.

The Great Replacement in Washington State

By Mike Adams

Washington State, known for its lush forests, vibrant tech hubs, and progressive politics, is undergoing a profound demographic transformation that is leaving one of America’s most unique cultural regions at risk of social and political extinction. The rapid diversification of its population, driven by both legal and illegal immigration, is leading to the crumbling of a once prosperous state. Tax collection is faltering while the state government, the pro-replacement state government, is increasing the tax burden on every day Americans. Large American companies are leaving the state and a staggering 12% of all businesses surveyed in Washington have expressed a desire to relocate to neighboring Idaho or other more affordable (read less diverse) parts of the country.

A state that helped to define the pioneer image and self-made man national character of the American people is at risk if the Great Replacement continues.

Demographic Shifts in Washington

Washington State has experienced a steady decline in its foundational American population (non-Hispanic Whites).. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, in 1970, Washington was approximately 94% White. By 2020, this figure had dropped to 63.8%, with projections estimating a further decline to below 60% by 2040. The state’s Hispanic population has grown significantly, rising from 2.1% in 1970 to 13.2% in 2020, while the Asian population increased from 1.9% to 9.2% over the same period. Additionally, the Black population has grown modestly, from 2.1% to 4.4%, and multiracial or “other” racial categories have expanded due to increased immigration and intermixing.

The growth in Washington’s non-White population is concentrated in urban centers like Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane, but rural areas are also seeing changes. For example, counties like Yakima and Franklin have seen Hispanic populations rise to over 50% and 54%, respectively, driven largely by agricultural labor migration from Latin America.

This demographic shift is not organic but is accelerated by deliberate policy choices at both the state and federal levels.

Moreover the foreign-born population of Washington has swelled at such a consistent pace that integration has become nearly impossible and ethnic enclaves and isolated communities have begun to form in certain regions of the state. In 1970, the foreign origin population of the state—those born abroad plus second generation immigrants, was about 18.7% and 88% of those immigrants were from Europe, Canada, or another Western country. As of 2023, Washington’s foreign born population has risen to 15.5% with 88% of those immigrants being of non-Western origin. A further 6% of the state’s population are children under 18 with immigrant parents. Today Washington’s population is 21% of foreign origin and 88% of non-Western extraction. A remarkable increase and demographic reversal on the situation in 1970.

State Policies Facilitating Demographic Change

The state’s government, one that has been subject to Democratic leadership for decades, has implemented policies that actively encourage immigration and demographic ‘diversification’. Governor Jay Inslee and the state legislature have very proudly made Washington into a “sanctuary state,” with laws like the 2019 Keep Washington Working Act (SB 5497) prohibiting local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

This has effectively shielded illegal immigrants from deportation and is likely encouraging further immigration into the state. The state has also embraced programs to resettle so-proclaimed and so-called refugees and asylum seekers. Seattle, in particular, has been a hub for refugee resettlement, with organizations like the International Rescue Committee facilitating the arrival of thousands of migrants from Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. In 2023 alone, Washington accepted over 2,500 refugees, primarily from Somalia, Afghanistan, and Syria, with many being placed in already strained communities like Tukwila and Kent.

These areas have seen rising crime rates and pressure on public services, yet state officials continue to promote further resettlement. Moreover, Washington’s economic policies incentivize immigration. The state’s booming tech industry, led by companies like Microsoft and Amazon, relies heavily on H-1B visa holders, predominantly from India and China. In 2024, Washington employers sponsored over 15,000 H-1B visas, contributing to the growing Asian demographic. While these workers are often portrayed as essential to economic growth we know that they only displace Americans.

Continues…