Doug Ericksen, a conservative Washington state senator, has died at the age of 52.
While his cause of death has not yet been revealed, his passing comes after he said he tested positive for COVID-19 in El Salvador weeks back during a trip to the country. Ericksen was a critic of the governor’s pandemic emergency orders, CBS reports, and previously led Trump’s presidential campaign in the state.
Recent legislation introduced by the senator was intended to protect the rights of unvaccinated people, but it is unclear if he was vaccinated against coronavirus.
“We are heartbroken to share that our husband and father passed away on Friday, Dec. 17. Please keep our family in your prayers and thank you for continuing to respect our privacy in this extremely difficult time,” Ericksen’s family shared with the Republican Caucus, KIRO-TV shares. He’s survived by his wife Tasha and two daughters.
Before his passing, Ericksen asked House and Senate members about monoclonal antibodies, and arranged a medevac flight out of the country, per former state representative Luanne Van Werven, who said he was recovering at a hospital in Florida. It is unclear where he was at the time of his death.
Ericksen, who was part of the the state legislature since 1998, per the Seattle Times, was elected to the Senate in 2010 after serving six state House terms.
“Trudi and I send our deep condolences to Doug’s family, friends and colleagues,” Gov. Jay Inslee wrote on Twitter. “Our hearts are with them.”
