Samuel Hopkins Nichols was a politician and civic leader in the states of Minnesota and Washington. He was a pioneer of Salem Township and Fergus Falls in Minnesota as well as of Everett, Washington. He was a Clerk in Salem Township and president of the Fergus Falls City Council, served as County Commissioner for Olmsted County, Minnesota, Assistant Clerk and Chief Clerk for the Minnesota House of Representatives, and Clerk of the state Supreme Court. In Everett, Nichols helped incorporate the city's first Chamber of Commerce and was a member of its first City Council. He was elected the fourth Secretary of State of Washington in 1901 and re-elected twice. He served at the position two full terms, but had to resign in the beginning of his third term due to accusations of malfeasance and corruption.

The secretary of state of Washington is an independently elected constitutional officer in the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Washington. Fifteen individuals have held the office of Secretary of State since statehood. The incumbent is Steve Hobbs, a Democrat.