State

State Representative, 5th Legislative District

Position 1, Short and full term

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

Michelle Bennett

Prefers Republican Party

Former police chief; university instructor

The gist

Opposes expanding Washington's income tax.
Proposes requiring accountability for state spending.
Supports law enforcement, firefighters and emergency responders.
Supports expanding trades, apprenticeships and career-connected learning.
Supports keeping parents involved in school decisions.
Proposes reducing regulatory costs that raise housing prices.
Opposes new taxes on local businesses.

More about Michelle

View sources (1)

Opposes expanding Washington's income tax.
Michelle Bennett for State Representative | LD 5 Washington
Campaign website · electmichellebennett.com
“Michelle will oppose efforts to expand Washington's income tax and fight for tax policies that protect working families, seniors, small businesses, and local communities.”
Proposes requiring accountability for state spending.
Michelle Bennett for State Representative | LD 5 Washington
Campaign website · electmichellebennett.com
“Require accountability for state spending so taxpayers know where their money goes.”
Supports law enforcement, firefighters and emergency responders.
Michelle Bennett for State Representative | LD 5 Washington
Campaign website · electmichellebennett.com
“Support law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency responders who keep communities safe.”
Supports expanding trades, apprenticeships and career-connected learning.
Michelle Bennett for State Representative | LD 5 Washington
Campaign website · electmichellebennett.com
“Expand pathways into trades, apprenticeships, and career-connected learning for students pursuing different futures.”
Supports keeping parents involved in school decisions.
Michelle Bennett for State Representative | LD 5 Washington
Campaign website · electmichellebennett.com
“Respect parents' role in education and keep families involved in decisions that affect their children.”
Proposes reducing regulatory costs that raise housing prices.
Michelle Bennett for State Representative | LD 5 Washington
Campaign website · electmichellebennett.com
“Reduce unnecessary regulatory costs that make housing, services, and daily life more expensive.”
Opposes new taxes on local businesses.
Michelle Bennett for State Representative | LD 5 Washington
Campaign website · electmichellebennett.com
“Oppose new tax burdens on local businesses and job creators.”

Zach Hall

Prefers Democratic PartyIncumbent

State Representative

The gist

Pledges to protect funding to expand State Route 18.
Supports reforms to finance and build homes faster.
Supports fully funding public schools.
Supports first responders, wildfire response and gun violence prevention.
Supports major investment in electric transmission lines.
Sponsored a law expanding distributed energy resources.In office
Voted for the 2026 tax on income over $1 million.In office

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

More about Zach

View sources (3)

Pledges to protect funding to expand State Route 18.
Priorities — Elect Zach Hall
Campaign website · electzachhall.com
“protect the funding we've won to expand this major corridor”
Supports reforms to finance and build homes faster.
Priorities — Elect Zach Hall
Campaign website · electzachhall.com
“We need more affordable housing and reforms that make it easier to finance and build new homes faster.”
Supports fully funding public schools.
Priorities — Elect Zach Hall
Campaign website · electzachhall.com
“Fully fund our schools so every student is engaged, supported, and prepared for the future.”
Supports first responders, wildfire response and gun violence prevention.
Priorities — Elect Zach Hall
Campaign website · electzachhall.com
“equipping our first responders with the tools and resources they need, proactively responding to the threat of wildfires and floods, preventing gun violence”
Supports major investment in electric transmission lines.
Priorities — Elect Zach Hall
Campaign website · electzachhall.com
“We need significant investment in transmission infrastructure to meet our growing energy needs.”
Sponsored a law expanding distributed energy resources.
HB 2296, Expanding the use of distributed energy resources (2025-26 biennium): bill summary
Government record · Washington State Legislature · app.leg.wa.gov
“Expanding the use of distributed energy resources.”
Voted for the 2026 tax on income over $1 million.
Roll calls on SB 6346 (2025-26), Establishing a tax on millionaires
Government record · Washington State Legislature · House, Final Passage as Amended by the House, 03-09-2026, "Voting yea" list · app.leg.wa.gov
“Goodman, Gregerson, Hackney, Hall, Hill”

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.