State

State Representative, 49th 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

Kim D. Harless

Prefers Democratic Party

Vancouver City Councilmember; Director of Community Engagement and Policy, Native American Youth and Family Center

The gist

Supports a lower rent-increase cap than the 2025 law
Supports just-cause eviction and a tenant right of first purchase
Supports defending the capital gains and millionaires taxes
Supports a Washington Health Trust covering all residents
Supports Apple Health coverage regardless of immigration status
Proposes a climate superfund charging the largest carbon polluters
Supports legal home cannabis growing for adults

More about Kim

View sources (1)

Supports a lower rent-increase cap than the 2025 law
Priorities — Kim Harless for State Representative
Campaign website · votekimharless.com
“Strengthen rent stabilization, with a lower cap than what passed in 2025”
Supports just-cause eviction and a tenant right of first purchase
Priorities — Kim Harless for State Representative
Campaign website · votekimharless.com
“Strengthen tenant protections, including just cause eviction and a tenant right of first purchase when a building goes up for sale”
Supports defending the capital gains and millionaires taxes
Priorities — Kim Harless for State Representative
Campaign website · votekimharless.com
“Defend the Capital Gains Tax, and the new Millionaire's Tax on income over $1M dollars from ballot and legal challenges”
Supports a Washington Health Trust covering all residents
Priorities — Kim Harless for State Representative
Campaign website · votekimharless.com
“Champion the Washington Health Trust to move our state toward a unified system covering all residents”
Supports Apple Health coverage regardless of immigration status
Priorities — Kim Harless for State Representative
Campaign website · votekimharless.com
“Reopen and fund Apple Health so coverage reaches every low-income resident regardless of immigration status”
Proposes a climate superfund charging the largest carbon polluters
Priorities — Kim Harless for State Representative
Campaign website · votekimharless.com
“Make the biggest carbon polluters pay for the damage they have already done through a climate superfund approach”
Supports legal home cannabis growing for adults
Priorities — Kim Harless for State Representative
Campaign website · votekimharless.com
“Support home cultivation of cannabis by persons who are 21 years of age and older”

Sarah Mittelman

Prefers Republican Party

Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner

The gist

Supports measurable outcomes and responsible state spending
Proposes reviewing program effectiveness before expanding costs
Supports police-crisis response coordination and repeat-offender accountability
Supports pairing compassion with accountability in behavioral health
Supports growth planning with strong local input
Supports state policy reflecting Southwest Washington's local needs

More about Sarah

View sources (1)

Supports measurable outcomes and responsible state spending
Sarah Mittelman for State Representative
Campaign website · sarah4wa.com
“Taxpayers deserve to know whether programs are delivering results. I support measurable outcomes, responsible spending”
Proposes reviewing program effectiveness before expanding costs
Sarah Mittelman for State Representative
Campaign website · sarah4wa.com
“Review programs for effectiveness before expanding costs.”
Supports police-crisis response coordination and repeat-offender accountability
Sarah Mittelman for State Representative
Campaign website · sarah4wa.com
“improve coordination between law enforcement, behavioral health systems, and crisis response while holding repeat offenders accountable”
Supports pairing compassion with accountability in behavioral health
Sarah Mittelman for State Representative
Campaign website · sarah4wa.com
“Compassion and accountability belong together”
Supports growth planning with strong local input
Sarah Mittelman for State Representative
Campaign website · sarah4wa.com
“I support thoughtful growth with strong local input and community-focused planning.”
Supports state policy reflecting Southwest Washington's local needs
Sarah Mittelman for State Representative
Campaign website · sarah4wa.com
“State policy should reflect local needs, local infrastructure, and local voices.”

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.