VOTE411 Voter Guide

I have had the privilege of serving the inspiring community of Legislative District 48 through my time as a former Bellevue City Council Member, four terms as a State Representative, and now as a State Senator. Through my experience I have shared countless conversations with my neighbors and voters, all of which I have carried with me in my policy making and advocacy. In Olympia, I’ve been fighting for our Eastside values. As a champion for choice, I passed one of the strongest healthcare and reproductive data privacy laws in the country. I’ve led the fight for K-12 and special education funding because every student deserves the opportunity to succeed. My community has directly felt the impact of my leadership in climate action, local affordability, and workforce development. I am dedicated to continuing my progress in these areas and fighting for my neighbors in the Legislature.

Creating Affordable Housing and Preventing Displacement. We must meet our housing needs with urgency and compassion by increasing affordable options near jobs and transit, while ensuring we don't leave behind low-income and working families.

Equitably Funding Public Education. Our children deserve a fully funded, accessible, and inclusive education system. I will continue championing statewide funding models that also respect the unique needs of local school districts.

Ensuring Inclusive and Accessible Healthcare. Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. I will continue to advocate for mental and behavioral health access, reproductive healthcare, and culturally competent care, especially for underserved and rural communities, so that every Washingtonian has the support they need to live a healthy life.

In regards to affordable housing, I have voted for and supported key legislation such as SB 5662 and SB 5552, which expand housing options while centering affordability. I have fought for policies that connect housing growth with community input, affordability mandates, and anti-displacement strategies. I am the only candidate in this race who voted in favor of rent stabilization. Along with this, I have been committed to working closely with local governments and housing stakeholders to ensure that legislation reflects on-the-ground realities of our district and region. Looking forward, I am ready to advance legislation that ensures housing near jobs and transit remains affordable and accessible to working families and low-income communities. I will push for accountability mechanisms to ensure affordability goals are met—not just incentivized. And lastly, I will center racial and economic equity in all housing policy to ensure we’re building inclusive communities, not just units.

Investing in infrastructure is a top priority, not only right now, but as an ongoing commitment to building resilient, connected, and thriving communities. This means funding safe, multimodal transportation options, maintaining roads and bridges, expanding clean energy infrastructure, and ensuring every community has access to clean water and high-speed broadband. I have championed the growth in multimodal transportation we have seen here in the 48th district, and plan to only continue this progress. I’ve worked to center equity and sustainability in infrastructure investments because infrastructure is about people, access, and opportunity. I’ll continue to champion funding that supports smart, inclusive, and future-ready growth across our state.

Gun violence is a public health crisis, and I am committed as a State Senator and public health advocate to advance evidence-based policies that reduce harm and save lives. For two years in a row, gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens. That’s why I’ve consistently supported common-sense gun safety measures—like HB 1240 to ban the sale of assault-style weapons (2023), HB 1163 supporting a permit-to-purchase system for firearms (2025), HB 1143 to strengthen background checks and require safety training (2024), and SB 5078 to hold firearm manufacturers accountable for irresponsible practices (2023).

These policies were crafted to reduce violence while respecting constitutional rights. I’m proud to be endorsed by the Alliance for Gun Responsibility because of my clear record supporting effective, life-saving legislation. I’ll continue working towards thoughtful, effective solutions that protect our communities, schools, and families with thoughtful action.

Amy Walen has consistently fought for women and families in Olympia. She sponsored HB 1072 to safeguard access to reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare, ensuring Washington remains a safe place for personal medical decisions. She also co-sponsored HB 1904, which strengthened tenant protections to stabilize housing for families, and supported paid family leave expansions. With her background as a mayor and small business owner, Amy brings practical leadership to support economic opportunity, healthcare access, and housing security in the 48th District and across the state.

Housing affordability and supply (she sponsored HB 1757 to allow commercial-to-residential building conversions),

Protecting healthcare access (she sponsored HB 1072 to preserve access to protected care), and

Supporting economic resilience for working families, especially women, through investments in childcare, education, and small business support.

On housing, Amy would build on her successful sponsorship of HB 1757 by supporting additional legislation to increase the supply of affordable housing, expand middle housing zoning options, and provide wraparound services for vulnerable populations. She also supported HB 1046, helping streamline the permitting process to reduce housing development delays—critical for families struggling with rising rents and limited options.

Amy places a high priority on infrastructure investment, particularly where it intersects with equity and family support. She supported HB 1846 to improve public broadband access, which helps working families and small businesses. She also champions green infrastructure and transportation improvements that create union jobs and reduce carbon emissions, including HB 1216, which advanced transit-oriented development near housing.

Amy supported HB 1240, which banned the sale of assault-style weapons, and HB 1902, which strengthened background checks and firearm safety training. As a Moms Demand Action-endorsed legislator, she believes in a balanced approach: upholding responsible gun ownership while prioritizing community safety, especially from domestic violence—an issue that disproportionately affects women and families. She will continue advocating for legislation that reduces harm while respecting rights.