locked in a fierce battle
The district covers part of King County, including Hunts Point and Medina and portions of Redmond, Bellevue and Kirkland.
The Candidates
Jessica Forsythe
Democrat
Residence: Redmond | Age: 44 | Previous office(s): Redmond City Councilmember, two terms | Work: Executive director, creative director, art director | Education: BFA, Visual Communication and Design
Amy Walen
Democrat • Incumbent
Residence: Kirkland | Age: 58 | Previous office(s): Kirkland City Council | Work: Financial controller | Education: Political Science, Law
The Issues
Is the state on the right track or wrong track? Why?
Jessica Forsythe (D)
Washington is positioned well to deal with these turbulent times but we are facing a budget crisis and we must be careful and strategic while solving to ensure that our communities do not inadvertently feel the impacts of budget cuts to critical programs.
Amy Walen (D)
Our state is on the right track in terms of progressive wins – we ended child marriage and the death penalty. We passed landmark legislation protecting the LGBTQ+ community and lead the nation in gun violence prevention measures. We have stood up to the overreaches of the Federal government and have enacted strong measures to protect immigrants and elections. We are strengthening our safety net with PFML and long-term care programs. We have improved our funding of K-12 education — our paramount duty.
Our state faces challenges in that working families are paying more, and they aren’t getting the results they should. State spending has gone from $38B to $80B over the last decade. That is more than double — we are providing more services, but we aren’t holding ourselves accountable for results, and we have lost taxpayer money. We are seeing worse outcomes in safety, homelessness, housing costs, grocery and gas prices, and education.
To be good stewards of the prosperous state this government inherited, we must hold ourselves accountable for results. Our economy is struggling. We have the second highest unemployment rate in the U.S., losing thousands of jobs in 2025 and currently. We can do better, and we should.
What is the top issue constituents in your district are concerned about that the Legislature has the power to solve?
Jessica Forsythe (D)
Affordability, climate crisis, education funding, community health and safety.
Amy Walen (D)
Affordability, the economy and opportunity and safety for all. I hear constantly from my constituents that they are worried about the cost of living. Over a third of my constituents are renters, and I am dedicated to sustainably reducing costs by increasing housing supply, by reforming our tax code to put less burden on lower-income and middle-class families, and by building out transit infrastructure so that we can all save gas money. I was the prime sponsor of HB 1075, unleashing financing for public housing construction as well as HB 1757 & HB 1042 which enabled large-scale conversion of existing commercial constructions into housing. I directly funded $6.2M in affordable housing development in the 48th District and voted to use millionaire tax money to reduce the state sales tax by 0.75%. I have been instrumental in bringing pedestrian, bike, bus, and light rail accessibility projects to the Eastside, and I intend to continue building infrastructure, reducing costs, and cutting red tape. We are losing jobs in our district every day. AI and the economic environment has our community worried about their ability to take care of their families. We need to be the government that leads — imagining and enacting a future for our children in a post AI world.
Do you support or oppose the new income tax on millionaire earners? Why or why not?
Jessica Forsythe (D)
Support. Our tax structure is one of the most regressive in the nation and it leads to the lowest earners paying a higher percentage of their income for everyday necessities. The Million Dollar Earners tax is a step toward fully funding education, providing kids with school meals, removing taxes on hygiene products, and easing the burden on small businesses. Is it perfect? No. But it is opening tough conversations we must reconcile with to ensure everyone in our state has an opportunity to thrive, not fall further behind.
Amy Walen (D)
I sponsored my own version and wrote a guest editorial in the Seattle Times in favor of an income tax that cut the state sales tax from 6.5% to 5.75% on all products AND would never apply to those below $1m in household income. The millionaires tax does not make our tax code more progressive for lower-and middle-income earners, it only increases taxes to fill a hole in the budget. Earmarks in the bill for tax revenue are not binding, meaning the legislature can do whatever it wants with the money. I support meaningful, progressive tax reform — instituting an income tax and reducing sales tax — providing straightforward tax relief and not putting billions of dollars into the budget without reducing the cost of living. We can and should seek a constitutional amendment with a modest income tax rate, (9.9% makes us one of the highest state income taxes) making this change in consultation and in partnership with our community. We need to consult with all the sectors of our economy about potential impacts, reform our business & occupation tax into a tax on profits rather than gross receipts, and we need to have a clear tax strategy that still attracts innovation, and sustainably funds a budget based on our values. We cannot build a strong safety net without a strong economy.
Do you support IL26-638, the initiative that would ban transgender girls from competing in girls’ sports?
Jessica Forsythe (D)
Hell no.
Amy Walen (D)
Healthy communities are built on trust, dignity, and the freedom to make personal healthcare decisions. I believe those decisions belong to individuals, not the government. We should not be inviting the government and school administrators into invasive health checks for teenagers that just want to play sports and get outside. Our most vulnerable children deserve to feel a sense of belonging in their extracurricular activities–not like someone is always looking over their shoulder. This is a nuanced issue, and a nuanced response is required. Initiatives generally are not nuanced. We want all kids to be able to participate in sports. As our communities have come to acknowledge the trans community, we must also adapt our sports systems so that all kids can participate. A huge part of confidence comes from the ability to be able to participate in sports, the arts, theater, music — we are creative enough to solve this issue so that ALL kids can thrive.
What’s one issue that you would champion if elected to the Legislature?
Jessica Forsythe (D)
I would like to start a Renter's Caucus in the Legislature to revisit renter protections and work on a ban of junk fees.
Amy Walen (D)
A huge part of the gender pay gap comes from the fact that women are still the primary caregivers for children, often leaving them behind in the job market.
We can’t wait for the federal government to act to make progress in our state. We need action on ensuring that quality childcare and early education are plentiful throughout our state for working families to be able to thrive. This is an essential need for moms, dads, and kids.
I will fight for comprehensive childcare reform, including robust state funding for childcare and tax relief for the provision of childcare services, a licensed and accredited childcare profession, business incentives for benefit plans that include childcare and tax subsidies for tenant spaces with childcare providers, making rent for providers affordable. Our Department of Commerce should assist providers with bookkeeping and regulatory compliance so that providers can focus on what they do best — taking care of our children.
These reforms will make this profession attractive to young people and will bring many retirees back to work doing what they love, which is teaching children. It’s not solely the responsibility of parents and their workplaces to support a robust childcare environment. We are all responsible for raising the next generation.
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