A seasoned policymaker and community leader, Saldaña enters the race with early endorsements from over 20 Legislators, former Co. CM Larry Gossett, and community members across the district

Rainier Valley, Seattle – More than 200 supporters gathered to rally behind State Senator Rebecca Saldaña as she announced her candidacy for King County Council District 2. For nearly a decade, Saldaña has represented many of the same neighborhoods in this district while serving in the state Senate. She is the first candidate to announce and is running to bring her deep community-rooted leadership even closer to the people she has spent her career fighting for.

“Standing in this room surrounded by my community—neighbors, organizers, elders, and young people who have shaped my life and my work—I feel honored and energized to begin this next chapter,” said Sen. Rebecca Saldaña. “I’m running for King County Council because our neighbors are struggling with skyrocketing rent and unaffordable childcare– it’s too much for everyday people to keep up. At this moment of national uncertainty, our local governments must serve as a shield to protect our immigrant neighbors, our workers, our families, and our shared values from federal attacks. ”

Emphasizing just a few of the many historic legislative victories from her nearly decade of service in the state Senate, Rebecca thanked her supporters saying “the hard fights we won together, whether it was the Voting Rights Act, Capital Gains Tax, Climate Commitment Act, Healthy Environment for All Act, Paid Family and Medical Leave, or so much more, was only possible because of everyone in this room and many others in our community. Together, this movement we have created has proven it can fight and deliver, and we are needed now more than ever.”

• Saldaña enters the race with early endorsements including: . 

• King County Councilmember Larry Gossett, District 2 (fmr.)

• State Senator Marcus Riccelli, 3rd LD

• State Senator Adrian Cortes, 18th LD

• State Senator Marko Liias, 21st LD

• State Representative Lillian Ortiz Self, 21st LD

• State Representative Sharlett Mena, 29th LD

• State Senator Claire Wilson, 30th LD

• State Representative Jamila Taylor, 30th LD

• State Representative Mia Gregerson, 33rd LD

• State Representative Edwin Obras, 33rd LD

• State Senator Emily Alvarado, 34th LD

• State Representative Brianna Thomas, 34th LD

• State Representative Julia Reed, 36th LD

• State Representative Liz Berry, 36th LD

• State Representative Chipalo Street, 37th LD

• State Senator Jamie Pedersen, 43rd LD

• State Representative Nicole Macri, 43rd LD

• State Representative Shaun Scott, 43rd LD

• State Senator Manka Dhingra, 45th LD

• State Senator Javier Valdez, 46th LD

• State Senator Claudia Kauffman, 47th LD

• State Senator Vandana Slatter, 48th LD

• Cindy Domingo, Community Leader

• Rhonda Gossett, Community Leader

• Sharon Maeda, Community Leader Davida Ingram, Director, Seattle King Co. African-Americans Reparations Committee* 

• Miguel Maestas, Deputy Director, El Centro de la Raza*

• Estela Ortega, Executive Director, El Centro de la Raza*

*Organization listed for identification only. 

What people are saying: “Rebecca is grounded in community, driven by justice, and relentless when it comes to delivering for families and communities,” said Sen. Emily Alvarado, a partner in the Legislature on housing affordability and community investment, praised Saldaña’s leadership. “She brings people together around our most challenging issues—affordability, opportunity, and equity—and she does it with integrity and heart. King County District 2 deserves a leader who listens deeply, acts boldly, and never forgets who she is fighting for. That’s Rebecca.”

“I have respected Rebecca's work for decades. She has been a thoughtful and steady advocate for our communities by listening, strategizing, and leading coalitions of people and organizations to fight for justice in housing, the environment, and community safety. She has been steadfast in her advocacy for immigrants and refugees. Current federal policies challenge the diverse people of District 2 and we need her strong voice, expertise and leadership now!” said Sharon Maeda, Retired media manager and community activist.

“Trump’s reckless attacks on social services and public institutions have left Washington families struggling to get by, all while the wealthiest corporations and people are seeing historic federal tax cuts and windfall profits. That’s why I’m so proud that Senator Saldana and I are pushing to balance our upside down tax code by asking the ultra-rich to pay just a little bit more, and fund the services all of us count on.” said Representative Shaun Scott, sponsor of the Well Washington Act which Senator Saldana is championing in the Senate. “ I support Rebecca Saldana for King County Council District 2 because I know she will continue being a relentless ally for all communities, just like she’s done in the Senate for nearly a decade.”

About Senator Saldaña: In the state Senate, Saldaña has been a driving force behind taxing wealthy corporations to better fund education and public services, ensuring all communities are safe from harmful environmental impacts, building a clean fueled equitable transportation system,  strengthening worker safety net programs, and increasing benefits and protecting every worker's rights. She has sponsored and championed landmark legislation including the Healthy Environment for All Act, Washington Voting Rights Act, Climate Commitment Act, Washington’s Clean Fuel Standard, Domestic Worker’s Bill of Rights, Paid Family and Medical Leave, and Move Ahead WA– the most ambitious transportation package in state history.

Before joining the state Senate, Saldaña organized with Oregon’s farmworkers union PCUN, served as a union organizer with SEIU Local 6, and led Puget Sound Sage, where she advanced community-led policies on economic, environmental, and racial justice. Her decades of work have earned recognition from labor, climate, immigration, youth, and civil rights organizations across Washington.

About the district: King County Council District 2, which was previously held by now King County Executive Girmay Zahilay, includes the Central District, Capitol Hill, Beacon Hill, the Rainier Valley, Rainier Beach, Skyway, Allentown, and surrounding neighborhoods. A special election will be held November 3, 2026 to fill the seat. The King County Council has announced that they will appoint a temporary caretaker until voters choose a permanent replacement next year.

Learn more at www.rebeccaforkingcounty.com