37th Legislative District candidates address immigration protections, state budget and healthcare at candidate forum
Candidates for Washington’s 37th Legislative District gathered at the Wing Luke Museum on October 20 for the 14th Annual Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (A&NH/PI) General Election Candidate Forum, discussing pressing issues affecting immigrant, refugee and working-class communities.
The forum, co-hosted by Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) and five community partners, featured House Position 1 candidates Sharon Tomiko Santos (incumbent) and Kelabe Tewolde, along with State Senate candidates Tatiana Brown and Chipalo Street (current State Representative). Rosette Royale of the South Seattle Emerald moderated the discussion.
Candidates addressed a range of issues, including immigration enforcement, Washington’s state budget shortfall, healthcare access, affordable housing and education.
Protecting Immigrant Communities
A central focus of the forum was protecting immigrant and refugee communities from federal immigration enforcement, particularly concerns about federal authorities obtaining personal information through state databases and third-party data-sharing systems.
Candidates discussed strengthening Washington’s existing immigrant protections, closing data-sharing loopholes and increasing accountability for state agencies.
Tewolde emphasized community-based efforts to protect immigrant families, describing neighborhood initiatives around school drop-off and pickup times. Santos and Street discussed legislative and executive-branch accountability, while Brown raised concerns about surveillance technologies, immigration detention and the challenges families face when trying to locate detained loved ones.
During a yes-or-no round, all four candidates indicated support for suspending access to Department of Licensing data by federal agencies involved in immigration enforcement.
Addressing Washington’s Budget Shortfall
With Washington facing another significant budget shortfall heading into the 2027 legislative session, candidates were asked how they would protect essential services while addressing the state’s financial challenges.
Santos emphasized protecting basic human needs, including food, shelter and healthcare, particularly for elderly immigrants, refugees and children. She identified spending reductions, additional revenue and greater government efficiency as strategies for addressing the budget.
Tewolde prioritized K–12 education, early childhood education and affordable housing, while also advocating for changes to Washington’s tax structure.
Street highlighted his legislative work on progressive revenue measures and proposed additional taxes on large financial institutions and profitable businesses to help address the immediate shortfall.
Brown called for reviewing corporate tax incentives and ensuring that vulnerable communities do not bear a disproportionate burden from budget reductions.
Preserving Healthcare Access
Candidates also addressed federal healthcare cuts under H.R. 1. Eligibility changes that took effect October 1 are projected to result in approximately 11,000 Washington residents—particularly refugees, asylees and other lawfully present immigrants—losing their Apple Health (Medicaid) coverage.
Additional changes beginning January 2027, including new work requirements and more frequent eligibility renewals, could result in even greater coverage losses. Governor Bob Ferguson estimates that at least 200,000 Washingtonians could lose Apple Health coverage by the end of 2027 as a result of the federal law.
All four candidates expressed support for expanding healthcare access and protecting programs serving immigrant and refugee communities.
Brown and Tewolde emphasized investing in multilingual, culturally responsive healthcare services and community organizations that help residents navigate coverage. Street discussed reducing administrative barriers that could cause additional people to lose benefits, while Santos stressed the importance of community health clinics, health equity initiatives and strengthening the healthcare workforce.
During the yes-or-no portion of the forum, all four candidates indicated support for continued funding of Apple Health Expansion and using state funds to maintain coverage for immigrants affected by federal cuts.
Housing, Education and Community Accountability
Beyond immigration protections, the state budget and healthcare access, candidates also discussed affordable housing, education, environmental justice and progressive taxation.
On housing, Tewolde advocated for stronger rent stabilization measures and expanded social housing, while Santos emphasized preventing displacement and addressing the different circumstances of corporate and small-scale landlords. Both candidates also highlighted the importance of inclusive history education, including better preparing teachers to accurately teach the histories of diverse communities.
In the Senate race, Street pointed to his legislative work on progressive taxation, while Brown called for greater corporate accountability and changes to tax policies to better support working-class communities. Brown also emphasized environmental justice and protecting climate investments intended to address health disparities.
The forum concluded with candidates discussing how they would remain accountable to constituents and ensure community members have a meaningful voice in legislative decisions.
The event provided an opportunity for A&NH/PI community members to hear directly from candidates, learn more about their policy priorities and make informed decisions ahead of the November general election.
*Candidates for the 37th Legislative District, State House Position 2, Evon McCorkle and Jaelynn Scott, were unable to participate in the forum.
