State

State Representative, 47th Legislative District

Position 2

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

Ted Cooke

Prefers Republican Party

Senior software tester and project manager

The gist

Pledges to eliminate taxes on income, property and fuel
Proposes ending cap-and-trade to lower energy costs
Supports in-person voting with ID checks
Supports letting police act on reasonable suspicion
Proposes posting all school curricula online for parents
Proposes easing growth management rules and permitting for housing
Proposes replacing DEI with merit in state hiring

More about Ted

View sources (2)

Pledges to eliminate taxes on income, property and fuel
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
“I'll freeze all new taxes and eliminate existing taxes on income, property, and fuel.”
Proposes ending cap-and-trade to lower energy costs
Ted Cooke - Priorities
Campaign website · tedcooke.org
“Lower energy costs by ending cap and trade.”
Supports in-person voting with ID checks
Ted Cooke - Priorities
Campaign website · tedcooke.org
“Return the option of in-person voting with ID check to protect everyone's vote.”
Supports letting police act on reasonable suspicion
Ted Cooke - Priorities
Campaign website · tedcooke.org
“Allow police to act on reasonable suspicion once again, not be held to the unworkable standard of probable cause.”
Proposes posting all school curricula online for parents
Ted Cooke - Priorities
Campaign website · tedcooke.org
“Make all current school curricula publicly available online for review by parents.”
Proposes easing growth management rules and permitting for housing
Ted Cooke - Priorities
Campaign website · tedcooke.org
“Ease the Growth Management Act, streamline permitting & inspection, lower excise and B&O taxes and eliminate the capital gains tax”
Proposes replacing DEI with merit in state hiring
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
“I'll replace DEI with merit in government hiring”

Chris Stearns

Prefers Democratic PartyIncumbent

State Representative; attorney

The gist

Supports protecting reproductive and gender-affirming care
Supports universal childcare and affordable housing investments
Supports urgent state investment in housing and behavioral health
Voted for SB 6346, the 2026 tax on millionairesIn office
Sponsored 2026 law on tribal consultation in energy facility sitingIn office
Co-sponsored 2026 law recognizing treaty-reserved tribal fishing rightsIn office

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

More about Chris

View sources (4)

Supports protecting reproductive and gender-affirming care
Re-Elect Chris Stearns – For State Rep • 47th Legislative District
Campaign website · chris4wa.com
“including reproductive and gender affirming care ... is a human right and the legislature must protect it for everyone”
Supports universal childcare and affordable housing investments
Re-Elect Chris Stearns – For State Rep • 47th Legislative District
Campaign website · chris4wa.com
“I will fight for investments in families including affordable housing, childhood nutrition, and universal childcare.”
Supports urgent state investment in housing and behavioral health
Re-Elect Chris Stearns – For State Rep • 47th Legislative District
Campaign website · chris4wa.com
“housing affordability, behavioral health, supporting small business”
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 … Springer, Stearns, Stonier, Street”
Sponsored 2026 law on tribal consultation in energy facility siting
HB 2496 (2025–26): EFSEC tribal consultation
Government record · Washington State Legislature · app.leg.wa.gov
“Concerning tribal consultation conducted by the energy facility site evaluation council.”
Co-sponsored 2026 law recognizing treaty-reserved tribal fishing rights
HB 2554 (2025–26): Tribal fishing rights
Government record · Washington State Legislature · app.leg.wa.gov
“Recognizing judicially affirmed and treaty-reserved fishing rights … Cortes , Stearns , Obras”

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; 8 issues covered in this race.