Candidate filing begins for 9 Washington state legislative seats

Candidates can begin filing at 8 a.m. Monday (May 5) for more than 3,200 seats on city councils, county commissions, school boards, and special districts.

By Jerry Cornfield Washington State Standard • May 5, 2025 1:10 pm
Courtesy Photo, State of Washington
Courtesy Photo, State of Washington

The curtain is officially rising on Washington’s 2025 election season.

Candidates can begin filing at 8 a.m. Monday (May 5) for more than 3,200 seats on city councils, county commissions, school boards, and special districts. They must turn in declarations and pay any fees by 5 p.m. Friday.

There are contests for nine Democrat-held legislative seats. Eight involve lawmakers appointed for the just-completed session who are seeking to stay in office. Winners will serve through 2026.

One race is to fill the vacancy created by the death of Democratic state Sen. Bill Ramos in April. The victor in November will serve the remaining three years of the term.

Here’s where things stand as filing gets underway.

Senate

26th District: Sen. Deb Krishnadasan, a Gig Harbor Democrat, wants to keep the seat she was appointed to after the district’s former state senator, Emily Randall, was elected to Congress. The district covers parts of Kitsap and Pierce Counties. Republican state Rep. Michelle Caldier of Gig Harbor is the lone GOP challenger to emerge so far.

33rd District: Sen. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, served in the state House until she was chosen to succeed Sen. Karen Keiser, who retired. Orwall was the only candidate with a campaign committee as of Friday. The district includes Burien, Normandy Park, Des Moines, SeaTac, and much of Kent.

34th District: Sen. Emily Alvarado, D-Seattle, moved from the House to the Senate to replace Joe Nguyen when Gov. Bob Ferguson named him to lead the state Department of Commerce. The district includes West Seattle, Vashon Island, White Center, and part of Burien.

48th District: Sen. Vandana Slatter, D-Bellevue, served in the House until being appointed to succeed Patty Kuderer, following her election as Washington’s insurance commissioner. Rep. Amy Walen, D-Kirkland, who also sought the appointment, is challenging her former seatmate. The district covers communities in Redmond, Bellevue and Kirkland.

5th District: Rep. Victoria Hunt, D-Issaquah, formally entered the race Monday and is backed by her seatmate, Rep. Lisa Callan, D-Issaquah. A Democrat will be appointed to serve in the seat through the election. Hunt also plans to seek the appointment when that process gets underway. The district covers Issaquah, Black Diamond, Covington, and part of Snoqualmie.

House

33rd District: Rep. Edwin Obras, D-SeaTac, was appointed to fill Orwall’s House seat. Kevin Schilling, a Democrat and the mayor of Burien, is gearing up to challenge him.

34th District: Rep. Brianna Thomas, D-West Seattle, was tapped to succeed Alvarado in the House.

41st District: Rep. Janice Zahn, D-Bellevue, was appointed to replace Tana Senn who resigned to join Ferguson’s administration as secretary of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. The district includes Mercer Island, Newcastle and part of Bellevue.

48th District: Rep. Osman Salahuddin, D-Redmond, was chosen to replace Slatter.

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