State

State Representative, 37th Legislative District

Position 1

Vote for: 1
Term: 2 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: Each legislative district elects two state representatives (Position 1 and 2), who vote on Washington laws and the state budget.

Candidates Compare by issue

Kelabe Tewolde

Prefers Democratic Party

Associate Director of Leadership Development, Rainier Scholars

The gist

Proposes limits on interest charged on medical debt
Supports universal health care through a Washington Health Trust
Supports banning rental junk fees and regulating utility billing
Supports state investment in social housing developers
Supports fully funding transition-to-kindergarten and early literacy
Supports restoring the Education Legacy Trust funding
Supports expanding non-police crisis response teams statewide

More about Kelabe

View sources (2)

Proposes limits on interest charged on medical debt
Candidate statement, Online Voters' Guide, November 3, 2026 General Election
Provided by the campaign · Washington Secretary of State (statement written by the candidate) · voter.votewa.gov
“interest limits on medical debt”
Priorities — Kelabe Tewolde for State Representative
Campaign website · kelabeforwashington.com
“I will work to create limits on interest incurred on medical debt.”
Supports universal health care through a Washington Health Trust
Priorities — Kelabe Tewolde for State Representative
Campaign website · kelabeforwashington.com
“I will support the establishment of the Washington Health Trust funded by progressive revenue.”
Supports banning rental junk fees and regulating utility billing
Priorities — Kelabe Tewolde for State Representative
Campaign website · kelabeforwashington.com
“We need a ban on junk fees and regulations on Ratio Utility Billing Systems (RUBS)”
Supports state investment in social housing developers
Priorities — Kelabe Tewolde for State Representative
Campaign website · kelabeforwashington.com
“I will be an advocate for investing in social housing developers all across the state.”
Supports fully funding transition-to-kindergarten and early literacy
Priorities — Kelabe Tewolde for State Representative
Campaign website · kelabeforwashington.com
“fully fund our transition to kindergarten programs, early literacy supports”
Supports restoring the Education Legacy Trust funding
Priorities — Kelabe Tewolde for State Representative
Campaign website · kelabeforwashington.com
“I will work to bring back funding for the education legacy trust fund”
Supports expanding non-police crisis response teams statewide
Priorities — Kelabe Tewolde for State Representative
Campaign website · kelabeforwashington.com
“Expand investments in non-violent services like the CAREs team across the state.”

Sharon Tomiko Santos

Prefers Democratic PartyIncumbent

State Representative; chair, House Education Committee

The gist

Supports tax fairness for working families
Supports investing in schools, childcare and workforce training
Supports anti-displacement measures and affordable housing near transit
Supports community-led violence prevention and behavioral health response
Supports reliable transit and pedestrian safety improvements
Voted for SB 6346, the 2026 tax on millionairesIn office
Sponsored 2026 law funding community preservation and development authoritiesIn office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Sharon

View sources (4)

Supports tax fairness for working families
Candidate statement, Online Voters' Guide, November 3, 2026 General Election
Provided by the campaign · Washington Secretary of State (statement written by the candidate) · voter.votewa.gov
“ensuring tax fairness for working families”
Supports investing in schools, childcare and workforce training
Reelect Sharon Tomiko Santos for State Representative | 37LD
Campaign website · votesharontomikosantos.com
“Invest in students, educators, and families through stronger schools, affordable childcare, and workforce development.”
Supports anti-displacement measures and affordable housing near transit
Reelect Sharon Tomiko Santos for State Representative | 37LD
Campaign website · votesharontomikosantos.com
“Prevent displacement, expand affordable housing near transit, and help more people get and stay housed.”
Supports community-led violence prevention and behavioral health response
Reelect Sharon Tomiko Santos for State Representative | 37LD
Campaign website · votesharontomikosantos.com
“Investing in community-led violence prevention, behavioral health response, and long-term mental health and substance use disorder treatment.”
Supports reliable transit and pedestrian safety improvements
Reelect Sharon Tomiko Santos for State Representative | 37LD
Campaign website · votesharontomikosantos.com
“Build safer, more connected neighborhoods through reliable public transit, pedestrian safety, and transit-first housing growth.”
Voted for SB 6346, the 2026 tax on millionaires
Roll calls on ESSB 6346 (establishing a tax on millionaires), 2026 regular session
Government record · Washington State Legislature · app.leg.wa.gov
“Yeas: 51 Nays: 46 Absent: 0 Excused: 1 … Reed, Ryu, Salahuddin, Santos, Scott, Simmons”
Sponsored 2026 law funding community preservation and development authorities
HB 1408 (2025–26): Community authority funding
Government record · Washington State Legislature · app.leg.wa.gov
“Establishing funding for community preservation and development authorities approved through RCW 43.167.060.”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 7 issues covered in this race.