Republican Ron Muzzall is the incumbent senator for Washington's 10th Legislative District. His website says his family has been on Whidbey Island for more than 100 years. Before his legislative career, he was a firefighter and Fire Commissioner with North Whidbey Fire and Rescue. Muzzall was on the board and chair of Skagit Farmers Supply. He also worked on the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives and was on the Land O’Lakes Cooperative board. Muzzall serves as a ranking member of the Health and Long Term Care Committee and on the Ways and Means and Rules committees. He operates 3 Sisters Family Farm on Whidbey Island with his family. 

Ron Muzzall PDC link 
Ron Muzzall campaign website 
Ron Muzzall State Voter Guide

Democrat Janet St. Clair, county commissioner of Island County since 2019, has worked in social work for 30 years. She also studied nonprofit management and held director positions at nonprofits including Lutheran Community Services Northwest, Asian Counseling and Referral Service and the Children’s Home Society of Washington, and worked as executive director of Sound Water Stewards of Island County. Throughout her time as Island County Commissioner, she prioritized housing assistance, worker protections and wages and increased funding for the Island County Sheriff’s office, according to her website. She said she increased health and mental health support for veterans in Island County. Clair is endorsed by several legislators including U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, the 10th Legislative District Democratic Party, Washington Conservation Action, the Washington State Nurses Association, the Tulalip Tribes and more. 

Janet St. Clair PDC link
Janet St. Clair campaign website 
Janet St. Clair State Voter Guide

Carrie Kennedy is from Oak Harbor, and is a Republican. She says on her website that as the wife of a U.S. Navy servicemember and the daughter of a U.S. Navy officer, she wanted to run for office. She is endorsed by the Island County Republican Party. On her voter guide page, she says in office she would “defend and preserve our freedoms, rights and traditional family values.” 

Carrie R. Kennedy PDC link 
Carrie R. Kennedy campaign website 
Carrie R. Kennedy State Voter Guide

Rep. Clyde Shavers, D-Clinton, grew up in Washington, graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy and serving for eight years, including one tour in the Middle East and in Southeast Asia. He later studied environmental law at Yale, where he established the Yale Coalition to End Homelessness. Shavers volunteered for the Skagit Friendship House, which supports homeless people in Mount Vernon, and with affordable-house-building organization South Whidbey Goosefoot. He also volunteered with the Whidbey Veteran Resources Center. He has served one term in office, and his legislative agenda included sponsoring bills for clean energy technology, supporting military family children, enhancing career learning opportunities for students, increasing funding for food banks, assisting rural communities, creating unemployment insurance and financial education for workers and work credit for students. Shavers supports law enforcement, access to reproductive health care, lowered taxes, affordable housing, sustainable fishing and farming, and affordable health care services for rural communities, those with mental health or substance-abuse issues, and reproductive rights. He vice-chairs the House Education Committee and serves on others including Capital Budget; Innovation, Community, and Economic Development; and Veterans. Shavers is endorsed by former Gov. Jay Inslee, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, the Washington Conservation Action, Planned Parenthood and the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific. 

Clyde Shavers PDC link
Clyde Shavers campaign website
Clyde Shavers State Voter Guide

Rep. Dave Paul, D-Oak Harbor, grew up in Enumclaw. An educator for more than two decades, he is the director of community relations at Skagit Valley College. Before that, he was a professor at Central Washington University, according to his LinkedIn. He also serves on the Island County Economic Development Council, according to his biography on the House Democrats website. As a legislator, he is the vice chair of the House Transportation Committee, and is on other committees including: Innovation, Community, & Economic Development; Veterans; and Postsecondary Education and Workforce. His legislative priorities are reducing the costs of higher education through the Running Start program; making health care more affordable through capping EpiPen and inhaler costs; improving mental health care for children in rural areas; budgeting funds for electrification of ferries; supporting veterans and their families; improving public safety through funding cohorts for the Washington State Troopers and supporting training and support for first responders; and providing property tax relief. 

Dave Paul PDC link
Dave Paul campaign website 
Dave Paul State Voter Guide

Gary Wray, a Republican, is in the building industry and the owner of Laser Construction and Development. He also served for six years in the U.S. Navy. He was the past president of the Skagit/Island Counties Builders Association and has chaired Habitat for Humanity of Island County. He criticizes the state for never cutting taxes despite budget surpluses, and advocates for expanding trades education, protecting against rising crime and ensuring reliable ferries to replace Washington’s aging fleet.

Gary Wray PDC link 
Gary Wray State Voter Guide

Democrat Andi Day is the only challenger to incumbent Jeff Wilson. Formerly, the Seaview resident was executive director of the Pacific County Tourism Bureau for 10 years before resigning in June 2022. She also served as chair of the board of directors for State of Washington Tourism from July 2021 to 2022. Her legislative priorities include improving infrastructure, protecting reproductive health care, investing in education and fostering responsible gun ownership.

Andi Day PDC link
Andi Day campaign website
Andi Day State Voter Guide

Republican Jeff Wilson was first elected to the District 19 state Senate seat in 2020. The Longview resident also serves as a Port of Longview commissioner, a post he was elected to in 2022. He has a history of working with local businesses, according to his legislative website, especially in sanitation and environmental services. His legislative priorities include limiting tax increases, reducing government spending, and ensuring transparency and accountability. 

Jeff Wilson PDC link
Jeff Wilson campaign website
Jeff Wilson State Voter Guide

Related reading
WA's government transparency committee is ready to call it quits (Cascade PBS)

Democrat Mike Coverdale served as an officer in the U.S. Army before returning home to Westport in 1991. He has held multiple volunteer positions within the community, including as a member of the Westport Planning Committee and the Fire District 3 Board and as president of the Westport Grayland Chamber of Commerce. He owns real estate company Windermere Westport and currently chairs the Grays Harbor Board of Adjustments, a citizen advisory board for the Grays Harbor County Commissioners. His priorities include improving access to health care, increasing funding for rural school districts, using natural resources to bolster the local economy and developing more housing. He also pledged to refuse corporate and super PAC donations.

Mike Coverdale PDC link
Mike Coverdale campaign website
Mike Coverdale State Voter Guide

Jim Walsh was elected in 2016 to the state House of Representatives and is only the third Republican to represent District 19 since the 1940s. He lives in Aberdeen and owns a technical publishing company, which he founded and has run since 1998. His priorities include improving the local economy through family-wage jobs, adequately funding schools and protecting property and gun rights, according to his legislative website. Last August, Walsh was elected to chair the Washington State Republican Party.

Jim Walsh PDC link
Jim Walsh campaign website 
Jim Walsh State Voter Guide

Realted reading
WA lawmaker barred from Capitol by vaccine rules wants to make bans illegal (Cascade PBS)

Democrat Terry Carlson, a challenger to incumbent Joel McEntire, works at timber company Weyerhaeuser, as the secretary for the local woodworkers union and as the vice president of the AFL-CIO-affiliated Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Central Labor Council. Carlson’s priorities include support for workers’ rights, public education, reproductive rights and fostering opportunities in energy and natural resources. Carlson previously ran for director of the Longview School Board and has been endorsed by the Washington State Labor Council.

Terry Carlson PDC link
Terry Carlson campaign website
Terry Carlson State Voter Guide

Republican Joel McEntire was first elected to represent the 19th Legislative District in 2020 and is currently serving his second term. McEntire, who is from, and currently lives in, Cathlamet, previously worked as a full-time middle school teacher and is a Marine Corps reservist. His priorities largely focus on bolstering his district’s farming, fishing and forestry industries, but also include public safety, affordable housing and equitable education, according to his legislative website.

Joel McEntire PDC link
Joel McEntire campaign website
Joel McEntire State Voter Guide

Riaz Khan sat on the Mukilteo City Council before losing reelection last year. The campaign sites Khan listed in the state voter guide have not been set up. According to the Everett Herald, Khan switched parties and joined the Republican party before filing for this election. Khan ran unsuccessfully for Legislative District 21, Pos. 2 in 2016, and before that was vice chair of the 21st Legislative District Democrats.

Riaz Khan PDC link
Riaz Khan campaign website
Riaz Khan State Voter Guide

Strom Peterson has held the seat since 2014. Prior to his election to the House of Representatives, Peterson sat on the Edmonds City Council for six years. In the House, Peterson chairs the Housing Committee and is a member of the Capital Budget and Civil Rights and Judiciary committees. Peterson also serves on the Snohomish County Council. According to Peterson’s campaign website, he supports recent gun control measures the Legislature has passed and also wants to ban AR-15-style weapons. The Democrat received endorsements from U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, Reps. Suzan DelBene and Rick Larsen, Lt. Governor Denny Heck, Attorney General Bob Ferguson and various other locally elected officials.

Strom Peterson PDC link
Strom Peterson website
Strom Peterson Voter Guide

Challenger, Kristina Mitchell is a self-described “moderate/conservative,” which she defines as conservative values with a moderate approach to hearing “all voices, reasons, and concerns,” according to her campaign site. Mitchell lists school funding as a pillar of her campaign. There are no endorsements listed on her site. According to her LinkedIn page Mitchell has over 20 years of experience in counseling and mediation, and has experience in conflict resolution.

Kristina Mitchell PDC link
Kristina Mitchell campaign website
Kristina Mitchell State Voter Guide

Lillian Ortiz-Self has represented the 21st Legislative District for a decade. She serves in the Democratic leadership team in the Legislature and sits on the Human Services, Youth and Early Learning, Education, Labor and Workplace Standards and Rules committees. Ortiz-Self is also a counselor in the Everett School District. She holds a master’s degree in public administration and counseling. Her priorities include funding smaller class sizes and easier access to supportive services in schools; worker retraining programs; investing in mental health services and banning high-capacity rifles, according to her website. About a dozen local and statewide elected officials have endorsed Ortiz-Self. 

Lillian Ortiz-Self PDC link
Lillian Ortiz-Self website
Lillian Ortiz-Self State Voter Guide

Jessica Bateman currently represents the 22nd Legislative District in the state House. She has been active on housing issues and sponsored a 2023 “missing middle” bill which legalized multi-unit housing across the state. The Democrat previously served for five years on the Olympia City Council and works as a policy advisor for the Washington Association for Community Health. She has been endorsed by Sen. Sam Hunt (who has held his seat since 2017, prior to that served in the House, and announced earlier this year that he would not seek reelection), Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Lt. Gov. Denny Heck, U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland, who represents Olympia in Congress, and two Olympia Port Commissioners. 

Jessica Bateman PDC link
Jessica Bateman campaign website
Jessica Bateman State Voter Guide

Related reading:
Political heavy hitters criticize Mayor Harrell’s housing plan (Cascade PBS)
How will ‘missing middle’ zoning impact Seattle housing? (Cascade PBS)
WA lawmakers’ ‘year of housing’ could ease the affordability crisis (Cascade PBS)

Charles (Bob) Iyall currently serves on the Olympia Port Commission, to which he was elected in 2021. He is a Nisqually Tribal elder and the CEO of Medicine Creek Enterprise Corporation, which oversees the Nisqually Tribe’s business operations, including its Red Wind Casino. He cites affordable housing, salmon recovery and behavioral health services as priorities. He told The Olympian he identifies as a “moderate” and plans to keep his seat on the Port Commission if elected. Iyall does not list any endorsements on his website.

Bob Iyall PDC link
Bob Iyall campaign website
Bob Iyall State Voter Guide

Beth Doglio, Democrat, served her first term between 2017 and 2021, leaving her seat to run in a Washington Congressional race in 2020 before beating Loretta Byrnes in the 2022 election and resuming office in 2023. In addition to serving in the Legislature, Doglio has worked for the clean-energy nonprofit Climate Solutions for 16 years. Doglio has also served as executive director of Washington Conservation Voters, and has worked for advocacy groups Pro-Choice Washington and Audubon Washington. In the Legislature, Doglio says she has worked to protect the environment and promote sustainability; uphold workers' rights; enact responsible gun laws and protect women’s reproductive freedoms. If reelected, Doglio says she will continue to commit to supporting legislation to make Washington a better place for all. 

Beth Doglio PDC link
Beth Doglio campaign website
Beth Doglio State Voter Guide

Challenging the incumbent for the House seat is Steve Owens, a candidate with no party preference aiming to “end politics as usual,” according to Owens’ website. Owens ran unsuccessfully for the state Senate in 2016 and the state House in 2014, according to Ballotpedia. Owens is critical of current U.S. economic and foreign policies and is running on a platform of challenging the status quo in politics. Owens supports addressing wealth inequality and homelessness, removing college degree requirements from government jobs, regulating artificial intelligence and protecting independent farming.

Steve Owens PDC link
Steve Owens campaign website
Steve Owens State Voter Guide

A social justice advocate with decades of experience working for the State Legislature, Syd Locke says he is running to disrupt the status quo and interlocking systems of oppression. After more than 30 years as a Senior Legislative Assistant for multiple Democratic members in both the House and Senate, Locke says he was encouraged to run for office himself. Locke, a Democrat, holds a masters in public administration, and has been involved in multiple social justice movements from Black Lives Matter to advocating for a cease-fire in Gaza. Locke’s priorities include building an environmentally sustainable Washington, implementing a state Medicare for All model, raising taxes on the ultra-rich, increasing wages, rent stabilization and addressing the destructive nature of capitalism as a root cause of social problems. Locke says he promises not to accept any corporate money in his run for office.

Syd Locke PDC link
Syd Locke campaign website
Syd Locke State Voter Guide

Olympia councilmember and veterinarian Lisa Parshley hopes to use her experience in local government as a State Representative serving the 22nd District. Since her election to the Olympia City Council in 2017, Parshley, a Democrat, says she has helped create policies to support communities through the pandemic, address homelessness, recognize the threat of climate change, increase police oversight and protect reproductive rights. If elected to the Legislature, Parshley says she hopes to continue leading the way in building healthy communities rooted in shared values. Parshley holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry and worked as a research scientist before becoming a doctor of veterinary medicine. Parshley currently works as a veterinary oncologist, and was the longtime co-owner of Olympia Veterinary Specialists.

Lisa Parshley PDC link
Lisa Parshley campaign website
Lisa Parshley State Voter Guide

Republican Lance Byrd was born and raised in Seattle, but has lived with his family in Bremerton for the past seven years. He wanted to run for office because he feels the Legislature raises taxes and fails to protect citizens by making it difficult for law enforcement to apprehend people, according to his candidate statement. He also believes the state needs to “fully fund K-12 education with money following the student;” make state ferries more dependable; and use credible scientific research on climate change before taking actions like banning natural gas or raising gas taxes. His legislative priorities also include restoring “parental rights,” protecting civil rights, repealing gas taxes, pursuing justice for crime victims, abolishing civil asset forfeiture, protecting farming, promoting affordable housing and “fixing the homelessness problem,” according to his campaign website. Byrd is endorsed by the Kitsap County Republican Party and is a board member of the 23rd Legislative District Republican Committee. 

Lance Byrd PDC link
Lance Byrd campaign website
Lance Byrd State Voter Guide

Democrat Drew Hansen was elected in 2023 as a state Senator after having represented District 23 in the House since 2011. Hansen vice-chairs the Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee. According to the state Senate Democrats website, Hansen’s legislative efforts have focused on expanding higher education access, strengthening gun laws and improving broadband access. During his time in the House, he pushed for the Shield Law, which looks to protect those receiving gender-affirming treatment and abortions in Washington. Hansen is a trial lawyer and teaches civil rights law and history at the University of Washington Law School. 

Drew Hansen PDC link 
Drew Hansen campaign website
Drew Hansen State Voter Guide

Kurt Robertson is an adjunct faculty instructor at Western Washington University teaching operations management, supply chain management, project management and design as well as design and maintenance of lean systems, according to his LinkedIn. He also has been an adjunct instructor at the University of Washington. He has worked in Saudi Arabia managing projects for various companies; taught English to post-graduate students in Jinan and Xi’an, China; and worked at Boeing as a practitioner of the Lean Six Sigma program. Robertson served for 20 years as a supply corps officer in the U.S. Navy. He is running as a Republican, and his legislative priorities include enforcing the law for the safety of neighborhoods, supporting businesses and repealing the carbon gas tax, according to his website. 

Kurt Robertson PDC link 
Kurt Robertson campaign website
Kurt Robertson State Voter Guide

Tarra Simmons, D- Bremerton, represents the 23rd Legislative District. Prior to her legislative career, Simmons was sentenced to 30 months in prison after suffering from behavioral health issues including substance-use disorder. Simmons is the state’s first formerly incarcerated lawmaker. After serving, she encountered difficulties readjusting to society, and has since worked to help formerly incarcerated people. She co-founded and directs the Civil Survival Project, a program under the Public Defender Association that provides legal services and advocates for formerly incarcerated people. As a representative, Simmons has championed the rights of incarcerated people through sponsoring bills like the one that restored their voter eligibility. Gov. Jay Inslee appointed her to the Washington State Reentry Council as co-chair, and she served on the Public Defense Advisory Board, according to the state Democrats’ website. She is also a member of the following committees: Community Safety, Justice & Reentry; Appropriations; Rules; and Healthcare & Wellness. 

Tarra Simmons PDC link 
Tarra Simmons campaign website
Tarra Simmons State Voter Guide

Related reading 
All former WA prisoners can now vote. So far, few have (Cascade PBS)
Court says ex-inmate can be lawyer (Cascade PBS)
Washington considers faster pathways to restoring rights after felony convictions (Cascade PBS)
New mothers can stay with their babies at this Washington prison (Cascade PBS)

Jamie Miles is running as a Republican, and her legislative priorities are supporting law enforcement and businesses and repealing the carbon gas tax. She lives on Bainbridge Island with her husband. Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, she has lived in New York, New Hampshire and Los Angeles. She worked at a think tank at Rockwell International and majored in chemistry and chemical engineering at the University of California Los Angeles. According to Miles’ website, she established an interventional pain and cognitive behavioral program at Kaiser Permanente, Woodland Hills and attended Harvard University for medical acupuncture training and certification and addiction and pain management.

Jamie Miles PDC link 
Jamie Miles campaign website
Jamie Miles State Voter Guide

The 2024 legislative session was Greg Nance’s first term. He was elected Assistant Majority Whip by the state House Democratic Caucus and vice chair of the Legislature’s Maritime Caucus, and also serves on the House Transportation Committee. Nance grew up in Kitsap and attended Kitsap K-12 public schools before moving to the Midwest as a Harry S. Truman Scholar at the University of Chicago. After completing his undergraduate degree, he attended the University of Cambridge in England as a Gates Cambridge Scholar. He also co-founded nonprofit Moneythink, which was recognized by President Barack Obama in 2012 and won a White House Champions of Change award. Nance struggled with depression and substance abuse, but has since turned his life around and is on the Board of Kitsap Mental Health services. His website says he is committed to strengthening education, expanding affordable child care and reliable public transportation, fighting fentanyl, bolstering the health care workforce and supporting mental health. 

Greg Nance PDC link
Greg Nance website
Greg Nance State Voter Guide

Mike Chapman currently serves as the Representative Pos. 1 for District 24. He chairs the Rural Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and previously chaired the Labor and Workplace Standards Committee. Prior to being elected to the statehouse in 2016, Chapman served four terms as a Clallam County Commissioner and worked for a decade before that as a law enforcement officer and U.S. Customs Inspector. Chapman, now a Democrat, was formerly a Republican and later became independent. He has been endorsed by Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz, Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal and sitting state Senator Kevin Van De Wege, among other public officials. Several unions also endorsed Chapman, including Washington Fraternal Order of Police, AFSCME Council 28, IBEW Local 77 and Washington Building Trades. 

Mike Chapman PDC link
Mike Chapman campaign website
Mike Chapman State Voter Guide

Republican Marcia Kelbon, an attorney from Quilcene, most recently worked as a senior executive and lawyer at a biotechnology company for nearly 20 years. Earlier, she worked as a civilian engineer for the U.S. Navy. Her local involvement also includes serving as a Quilcene Fire Commissioner and providing pro bono legal services to the North Hood Canal Chamber of Commerce and the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Association. Her legislative priorities include providing more control for parents in educational decisions, repealing the carbon cap-and-invest program and the excise tax on capital gains, improving highway and ferry transportation, investing in public safety, increasing housing stock, protecting timber and fisheries businesses and combating homelessness by reforming mental health and substance-abuse treatments. 

Marcia Kelbon PDC link
Marcia Kelbon campaign website
Marcia Kelbon State Voter Guide

Democrat Adam Bernbaum was the legislative assistant for State Sen. Kevin Van De Wege and a field organizer for Congressman Derek Kilmer, and worked at a nonprofit focused on behavioral health and criminal justice policy. He also serves on multiple community boards, such as the Olympic View Community Foundation, The Nor’wester Rotary, and the Clallam County Conservation Future Program Advisory Board. His priorities include creating more affordable housing, improving access to health care, generating higher-paying jobs, supporting senior citizens, investing in broadband infrastructure and fostering sustainable natural resource management. Bernbaum, of Port Angeles, has been endorsed by Van De Wege; several of the district’s mayors, councilmembers and commissioners; and many unions, including the Washington State Labor Council, Washington Building Trades and Laborers Local 252. 

Adam Bernbaum PDC link
Adam Bernbaum campaign website
Adam Bernbaum State Voter Guide

Republican Matt Roberson, an attorney from Port Angeles, works as a deputy prosecutor for Clallam County, a position he has held since 2016. His priorities include investing in public safety, improving public education, reducing taxes and incentivizing housing developments.

Matt Roberson PDC link
Matt Roberson campaign website
Matt Roberson State Voter Guide

Republican Terry Roberts of Quilcene worked in finance and was a consultant and trainer for Washington State Public Schools. He was previously involved in several boards, including those of Northshore Youth and Family Services and Long Term Elder Care. He was also on the King County 2000 Committee and director of the River Ridge Homeowners Association. Roberts’ priorities include fostering public safety, reducing the effects of inflation, defending law enforcement, creating a balanced budget and opposing tax increases. 

Terry Roberts PDC link
Terry Roberts campaign website
Terry Roberts State Voter Guide

Democrat Steve Tharinger, elected to represent Legislative District 24 in 2010, chairs the House Capital Budget Committee. Tharinger, of Sequim, is a member of the Dementia Action Collaborative and the Sequim Sunrise Rotary. Previously he was a small-business owner and served as a Clallam County Commissioner and on the Clallam County Economic Development Council, the Clallam County Board of Health and the Dungeness River Management Team. 

Steve Tharinger PDC link
Steve Tharinger State Voter Guide

Democrat Adison Richards works as an attorney for Kitsap Legal Services. He ran for the same 26th District seat in 2022, losing to Republican Spencer Hutchins by 735 votes. Richards cites rural broadband, increasing funding for first responders, lowering business and occupation taxes, and combating price gouging as priorities on his website.

He has been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, state senator Emily Randall, Washington Conservation Action, Planned Parenthood Washington and the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Adison Richards PDC link
Adison Richards campaign website
Adison Richards State Voter Guide

Republican Jesse Young represented the 26th District from 2014-2023, when he ran for state Senate and lost to Emily Randall. He works in IT for a staffing company called Rose International, according to his LinkedIn page. Young cites school choice, a parental bill of rights, reducing regulations on business, and lowering gas and property taxes as priorities on his website.

In 2017, the House of Representatives restricted Young from dealing with his staffers for one year following accusations of mistreatment, according to The Associated Press. He was also fined $1,500 by Washington’s Legislative Ethics Board for using state resources to campaign, according to a 2018 Seattle Times article. He has denied both charges.

Young has been endorsed by the Washington State Fraternal Order of Police, the National Rifle Association of America - Political Victory Fund, the Association of Washington Business and state senators Tim Sheldon and Drew MacEwan.

Jesse Young PDC link
Jesse Young campaign website
Jesse Young State Voter Guide

Incumbent Republican Michelle Caldier was first elected to the Legislature in 2014. She has worked as a dentist and a dentistry professor at the University of Washington. 

She cites her push to repeal the 2021 law limiting police pursuits and reducing tolls on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge as priorities on her legislative website. The Republican also cites support for upcoming ballot initiatives to repeal the Climate Commitment Act and capital gains tax, and allow people to opt out of the state’s long-term care program. 

Two reports released by the chief clerk of the House of Representatives over this past year found that Caldier violated legislative conduct rules by belittling staff members and releasing the names of people who had been interviewed for investigations into her conduct.

Caldier has been endorsed by the Washington Retail Association and the Association of Washington Business, according to her campaign Facebook page.

Michelle Caldier PDC link
Michelle Caldier campaign website
Michelle Caldier State Voter Guide

Democrat Tiffiny Mitchell served in the Oregon Legislature from 2019-2021. She has worked for the Oregon Department of Human Services in the child welfare division, according to a 2019 letter she wrote as a lawmaker. She cites rent stabilization, reproductive rights and supporting unions as priorities on her website. Mitchell has been endorsed by the Washington State Labor Council, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, and U.S. Rep Derek Kilmer, who represents Washington’s 6th District in Congress.

Tiffiny Mitchell PDC link
Tiffiny Mitchell campaign website
Tiffiny Mitchell State Voter Guide

Republican Dan Griffey has represented Legislative District 35 since 2014 and is running unopposed for reelection. He serves as the assistant ranking member on the Community, Safety, Justice and Reentry Committee and sits on the Local Government and Transportation committees. Griffey, who lives in Allyn, has worked as a professional firefighter for the Mason County Fire District 5 for more than two decades. His priorities include public safety reforms, fostering job growth, keeping housing affordable, education funding, stopping the creation of an income tax, requiring a balanced budget and investing in hydroelectric power.

Dan Griffey PDC link
Dan Griffey campaign website
Dan Griffey State Voter Guide

Incumbent Travis Couture, a Republican from Allyn, is running for reelection to his second term. He served in the U.S. Navy and has a background in business, most recently in leadership for a local nonprofit serving people with disabilities. His priorities are reducing regulations on public safety, increasing affordability by lowering taxes, funding education and fostering school choice, and supporting the Second Amendment and property rights. The Washington Fraternal Order of Police and the Association of Washington Business have endorsed him. 

Travis Couture PDC link
Travis Couture campaign website
Travis Couture State Voter Guide

Related reading:
How the Israel/Hamas war influenced a WA genocide education bill (Cascade PBS)
Washington Legislature aims to regulate AI — but treads cautiously (Cascade PBS)
WA intercepts millions in child support for low-income families (Cascade PBS)

The Democratic challenger, James DeHart of Shelton, has a background working in public agencies on the state and county level. He also ran for the Legislature in 2022, but lost in the general election. His priorities for office include upholding democracy, funding public education, building affordable housing, reforming law enforcement and improving health care access. Among his endorsers are Planned Parenthood, Washington Conservation Action, the American Federation of Teachers and Olympia Indivisible. 

James DeHart PDC link
James DeHart campaign website
James DeHart State Voter Guide

Julio Cortes was first elected to the seat in 2022. The Democrat works for the city of Everett in its marketing and communications department. Last session he sponsored a bill to allow lawful permanent residents to serve in police departments and prosecutorial offices. On his campaign site, Cortes has listed endorsements from U.S. Congress member Rick Larsen, Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin, Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers, and 10 current and former state representatives. He supports a less-regressive tax system and increasing funding for affordable housing and wraparound services. 

Julio Cortes PDC link
Julio Cortes campaign website
Julio Cortes State Voter Guide

Annie Fitzgerald, a Democrat, is challenging Cortes. She’s a member of the LGBTQ community and disability activist, according to her campaign website. Fitzgerald has worked as a private investigator. She says “progressive change” is needed to help the average person.  Fitzgerald has no endorsements listed on her campaign website.

Annie Fitzgerald PDC link 
Annie Fitzgerald campaign website
Annie Fitzgerald State Voter Guide

Marnie Claywell, a Republican, is challenging Mary Fosse. Claywell is a certified HUD Housing Counselor and has a bachelor’s degree in business administration, according to her campaign website. Claywell says she is running to combat over-taxation. She believes that life starts at conception. There are no endorsements listed on her campaign site. 

Marnie Claywell PDC link
Marnie Claywell campaign website
Marnie Claywell State Voter Guide

Mary Fosse, a Democrat, won the seat in 2022. She also sits on the Everett City Council. In the Legislature, Fosse has pushed tenant protections, increased funding for affordable housing and for mental health and substance-abuse programs. She vice-chairs the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee and is also a member of both the House Community Safety, Justice and Reentry and the Capital Budget committees. Fosse has been endorsed by State Senator June Robinson and Snohomish County Sheriff Susanna Johnson.

Mary Fosse PDC link
Mary Fosse campaign website
Mary Fosse State Voter Guide

A Republican from Sedro Woolley, Charles Carrell previously ran for the District 40 Senate seat in 2020 but lost to incumbent Liz Lovelett. Carrell was the president of the Snohomish County Corrections Guild before retiring from the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office. Carrell vows to work for parents' rights, making sure ferries and bridges are maintained and updated, and pushing back against state policy decisions that Carrell believes have made the drug abuse and homelessness worse. 

Charles Carrell PDC link
Charles Carrell State Voter Guide

A Democrat who grew up on Fidalgo Island, Liz Lovelett was appointed to the Washington state Senate in 2019 and was elected to the same seat in 2020. Previously, Lovelett served on the Anacortes City Council. Her platform includes protecting orcas, protecting the environment, and supporting transportation development in rural and urban areas, according to her campaign website. She has been endorsed by the 40th District Democrats, Washington Conservation Action, Skagit County Democrats, San Juan County Democrats, Joint Council of Teamsters No. 28 and the Washington State Labor Council.

Liz Lovelett PDC link
Liz Lovelett campaign website
Liz Lovelett State Voter Guide

Debra Lekanoff has represented Washington’s 40th legislative district since 2019. A Democrat, she has been a resident of Skagit Valley for around 20 years. Along with her role in the House, she has served as governmental affairs director for the Swinomish tribe. Lekanoff sits on the Environment and Energy, Rules and Appropriations committees. In addition, she co-chairs the Joint Legislative Taskforce on Water Supply and the Native American Caucus.

Lekanoff advocates for a strong workforce, support for unions, saving salmon, the right to choose, increasing school safety and addressing the housing and homelessness crisis, among other things.

Debra Lekanoff PDC link
Debra Lekanoff campaign website
Debra Lekanoff State Voter Guide

Related reading:
Washington State University earns $15M a year on stolen land (Cascade PBS)
Washington considers consolidating elk management (Cascade PBS)
WA may launch a cold-case unit for missing, murdered Indigenous people (Cascade PBS)

Alex Ramel has served in the State Legislature since January 2020, when he was appointed to replace Jeff Morris, who had resigned midterm. Ramel was previously employed as the energy and policy director for the Bellingham-based nonprofit Sustainable Connections. Ramel also served on the board of the Kulshan Community Land Trust, and was the board’s president for three years. He founded the Community Energy Challenge and has served on the Whatcom Climate Impacts Advisory Committee.

Ramel advocates for reducing Washington’s pollution and energy costs for everyone, preventing gun violence, health care for all, affordable housing and more. He is pro-choice and focused on improving the economy by putting people first.

Alex Ramel PDC link
Alex Ramel campaign website
Alex Ramel State Voter Guide

Republican Raymond Pelletti has worked as a managing real estate broker, senior residential appraiser, and in mortgage lending operations. In addition, he has served in various organizations, including as president of both Puget Sound Mortgage Lenders and the County Association of Realtors. Pelletti served as a supply sergeant in the United States Air Force and is a Vietnam veteran. He has also served on the board of directors for both the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center and Make-A-Wish of Washington and Alaska.

Pelletti is an advocate of conservative American values, creating fair environments for women, opportunities for working-wage jobs and a strong and prosperous community.

Raymond Pelletti PDC link
Raymond Pelletti campaign website is under construction
Raymond Pelletti State Voter Guide

Democrat Alicia Rule was elected to the Legislature in 2020. She has worked as a social worker, a mental health professional and a small-business owner. Rule is also a former Blaine City Council member and ran for Whatcom County Executive in 2023, coming in third in the primary. During Rule’s time in Olympia, she has sponsored legislation supporting children experiencing homelessness, outdoor education and more. She vice-chairs the Human Services, Youth & Early Learning Committee and serves on the Capital Budget and Innovation, Community and Economic Development, and Veterans committees. 

Rule is an advocate for reducing taxes for small businesses, creating access to affordable housing, women’s reproductive rights, IVF protection and more. Rule’s endorsers include U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-WA02; Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal and a number of Democratic lawmakers in the legislature; the Alliance for Gun Responsibility; SEIU 925 and other labor groups.

Alicia Rule PDC link
Alicia Rule campaign website
Alicia Rule State Voter Guide

Kamal Bhachu, a Republican, has previously worked as a CNA, a nursing assistant at Whatcom County Hospice, a senior engineer at PeaceHealth, and at Lynden Sheet Metal. Bhachu immigrated from Punjab, India, in his teens. He is a Sikh youth mentor and language tutor as well as a volunteer for the Punjabi Selfless Service Outreach Organization. Bhachu has also helped to bring the sport of cricket to Bellingham.

Bhachu, who has previously run for state representative and Whatcom County Council, advocates for reducing gas taxes, the safety of communities, and restoring authority to law enforcement. He hopes to help reduce crime and create a better school system that promotes better reading, writing, scientific understanding, and the ability to manage personal finances.

Kamal Bhachu PDC link
Kamal Bhachu campaign website
Kamal Bhachu State Voter Guide

Joe Timmons was elected to the Legislature in 2022. Previously he worked as a special projects manager in the Mayor of Bellingham’s office. He also was Northwest regional representative in the Office of Governor Jay Inslee and assistant director of government relations at Western Washington University. Timmons, a Democrat, has also served as a member of the Washington State Leadership Board and of the board of Bellingham’s food bank.

Timmons advocates lowering the cost of living, supporting behavioral health, child care, supporting students and educators, and more. In his time in elected office, he has passed legislation that has strengthened the state’s emergency preparedness, increased affordability for seniors, and improved Whatcom County’s court system.

Joe Timmons PDC link
Joe Timmons campaign website
Joe Timmons State Voter Guide

Brandy Donaghy was appointed to the seat in 2021, and the next year won an election to keep representing the 44th District. The Democrat served in the Navy during the First Gulf War. In the Legislature, Donaghy serves as vice chair of both the Innovation, Community and Economic Development and Veterans Committee and the Transportation Committee. In the most recent session, Donaghy sponsored a bill to allow cities to use traffic cameras to fine speeding drivers, and a proposal to support paraeducators in schools, according to her legislative website.  

Brandy Donaghy PDC link 
Brandy Donaghy website 
Brandy Donaghy Voter Guide

Democrat April Berg, elected to the seat in 2020, was the first Black woman to represent the district, according to the campaign’s website. Berg has also served on the Everett School Board. Berg supports efforts to reform Washington’s tax code to make it more progressive, such as a capital gains tax and a tax on high-end property sales to fund affordable housing. Berg has no endorsements listed on the campaign site. 

April Berg PDC link
April Berg campaign website
April Berg Voter Guide

Sam Sim is a Republican who lives in the Bothell area. He was elected to a leadership role in the Greater Seattle Korean Association and the America Korea United Society and does outreach for the Snohomish County Republican Party. He is the founder of a number of e-commerce companies and is working toward a master's degree at the University of Washington. The eldest child of Korean immigrants, Sim's public service goals focus on education and youth empowerment.

Sam Sim PDC link
Sam Sim campaign website
Sam Sim Voter Guide