Rebecca Saldaña picked to replace Jayapal in State Senate

Rebecca Saldaña (Courtesy Rebecca Saldaña for State Senate)

King County Councilmembers unanimously appointed Rebecca Saldaña, Puget Sound Sage director, to take over Pramila Jayapal’s seat in the State Senate, citing the importance of diverse representation in the state legislature.

Jayapal, who won the Congressional seat in the 7th District vacated by Jim McDermott, was the only woman of color in the State Senate and represented the 37th Legislative District. The 37th is one of the few majority-minority districts in the state legislature.

The other candidates for Jayapal’s seat were Rory O’Sullivan, a housing lawyer and the chair of the 37th Legislative District Democrats, and Shasti Conrad, a progressive political consultant.

When a legislator vacates their seat, the legislative district precinct committee officers of the represented seat select three candidates to the county council, which makes the final pick. Usually the process rubber-stamps the candidate with the most votes from the precinct committee officers. In this case, that would have been O’Sullivan, who got an 11 vote lead over Saldaña, according to Josh Feit in Publicola.

But representation of the diverse district in the state legislature was an issue for the King County Council, which split a vote against O’Sullivan and then unanimously appointed Saldaña, according to Heidi Groover in The Stranger:

“It’s not just identity politics,” said Council Member Claudia Balducci. “It’s about this increasingly diverse county that we live in. The numbers of people who come to the table and bring that experience [and] bring that point of view in our legislature is really woefully lacking.”

Council Member Larry Gossett, whose district overlaps with the 37th Legislative District, said 92 percent of the state legislature is white. While all of the candidates were qualified, Gossett said, Jayapal’s departure meant there was “no woman that brings that perspective” to the state senate.

According to Cliff Cawthon in the South Seattle Emerald, Saldaña will run to retain her seat next year. Jesse Wineberry also announced he will run for the seat.

Additional coverage

South Seattle Emerald: County Council Selects Rebecca Saldaña for 37th District Senate Appointment

The Stranger: County Council Appoints Rebecca Saldaña to State Senate

Seattle Met: Puget Sound Sage Director Rebecca Saldaña Wins State Senate Appointment

1 Comment

  1. Hello and my name is Susana Jiro, a very proud Palauan. What a GREAT news!!! Thank you Senator Saldana. Congratulation!!! Our Islander nations got your back.

Comments are closed.

1 Comment

  1. Hello and my name is Susana Jiro, a very proud Palauan. What a GREAT news!!! Thank you Senator Saldana. Congratulation!!! Our Islander nations got your back.

Comments are closed.