State Representative Pos. 1 District 37 in Washington State House District 37, Washington

2026 Primary Election

• Sharon Tomiko Santos — Incumbent Member of the Washington House of Representatives in Seattle, WA

  Sharon Tomiko Santos, born in San Francisco in 1961, is an incumbent member of the Washington House of Representatives for the 37th legislative district, a position she has held since 1999. A graduate of Evergreen State College and Northeastern University, she made history as the first Japanese-American woman to serve in a mainland state legislature. Representing diverse communities in Central and Southeast Seattle, she is dedicated to advancing their voices in the People's House. She serves on key committees including Education, Finance, Insurance, Financial Services & Consumer Protection, and Rules. She is seeking re-election in the 2026 Washington Primary Election.

• Kelabe Tewolde — Educator in Seattle, WA

  Kelabe Tewolde, a lifelong Seattleite and educator, is running for State Representative to bring a new generation of leadership to Washington's 37th Legislative District. Raised in a working-class union family by a single mother who was a refugee, he personally experienced being priced out of neighborhoods and the burden of medical debt. As an educator and former Rainier Scholars participant, he has seen his students face similar struggles, including gun violence. He advocates for well-invested, well-resourced communities, focusing on policies that center community solutions, protect working families, fully fund public schools, expand affordable healthcare, address rising housing costs, and invest in violence prevention programs.