State

State Representative, 44th 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

Chris Elder

Prefers Republican Party

Navy veteran; real estate broker; farmer

The gist

Proposes cutting wasteful spending instead of raising taxes
Supports full transparency in government spending
Supports pro-growth policies to attract jobs and small businesses
Supports easing regulations that hinder affordable housing
Supports raising Washington's police staffing levels
Supports expanding skill-building, college and trades pathways
Supports keeping parks and trails clean, safe and accessible

More about Chris

View sources (1)

Proposes cutting wasteful spending instead of raising taxes
ISSUES | Priorities For LD 44 — Chris Elder for State Representative
Campaign website · electchriselder.com
“Chris will fight to reduce wasteful spending rather than raise taxes”
Supports full transparency in government spending
ISSUES | Priorities For LD 44 — Chris Elder for State Representative
Campaign website · electchriselder.com
“demand full transparency of how the government spends your money”
Supports pro-growth policies to attract jobs and small businesses
ISSUES | Priorities For LD 44 — Chris Elder for State Representative
Campaign website · electchriselder.com
“Chris will champion pro-growth policies that attract jobs, support small businesses, and strengthen our economy.”
Supports easing regulations that hinder affordable housing
ISSUES | Priorities For LD 44 — Chris Elder for State Representative
Campaign website · electchriselder.com
“Chris will fight to lessen regulations that hinder affordable housing”
Supports raising Washington's police staffing levels
ISSUES | Priorities For LD 44 — Chris Elder for State Representative
Campaign website · electchriselder.com
“address Washington's low police-per-capita levels”
Supports expanding skill-building, college and trades pathways
ISSUES | Priorities For LD 44 — Chris Elder for State Representative
Campaign website · electchriselder.com
“Chris will work to expand opportunities through skill-building education, college, and the trades”
Supports keeping parks and trails clean, safe and accessible
ISSUES | Priorities For LD 44 — Chris Elder for State Representative
Campaign website · electchriselder.com
“Chris will advocate for the care of public lands by keeping our parks and trails clean, safe, and accessible.”

Brandy Donaghy

Prefers Democratic PartyIncumbent

State Representative; Navy veteran

The gist

Supports reproductive and gender-affirming health care
Supports reducing carbon emissions and promoting clean energy
Supports affordable childcare and fair childcare worker wages
Voted for SB 6346, the 2026 tax on millionairesIn office
Sponsored 2025 law improving young driver safetyIn office
Sponsored 2025 law protecting owners in solicited real estate dealsIn office
Sponsored 2026 law expanding albuterol access in schoolsIn office

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

More about Brandy

View sources (5)

Supports reproductive and gender-affirming health care
Issues – BrandyDonaghy.com
Campaign website · brandydonaghy.com
“Reproductive health care is health care. … Gender affirming care is healthcare.”
Supports reducing carbon emissions and promoting clean energy
Issues – BrandyDonaghy.com
Campaign website · brandydonaghy.com
“Brandy is committed to advancing policies that reduce carbon emissions, promote renewable and clean energy sources, and protect our natural resources.”
Supports affordable childcare and fair childcare worker wages
Issues – BrandyDonaghy.com
Campaign website · brandydonaghy.com
“childcare workers receive access to the training they need and wages they deserve”
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 … Doglio, Donaghy, Duerr, Entenman, Farivar”
Sponsored 2025 law improving young driver safety
HB 1878 (2025–26): Young driver safety
Government record · Washington State Legislature · app.leg.wa.gov
“Improving young driver safety.”
Sponsored 2025 law protecting owners in solicited real estate deals
HB 1081 (2025–26): Solicited real estate
Government record · Washington State Legislature · app.leg.wa.gov
“Establishing consumer protections for owners of solicited real estate.”
Sponsored 2026 law expanding albuterol access in schools
HB 2360 (2025–26): Albuterol access in schools
Government record · Washington State Legislature · app.leg.wa.gov
“Expanding access to albuterol in public and private schools.”

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; 9 issues covered in this race.