Legislative District 49 - State Representative Position 1
August 4, 2026 · Legislative (House) District 49; Washington · State house district · primary
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Low · 31 out of 100
This district is large for its type, so each vote is a smaller slice of the outcome. About 160,893 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(164,798 ÷ 160,893) ÷ ln(164,798 ÷ 152,644) = 31.3, comparing state house districts in WA (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
Low representation + unknown decisiveness → Below average vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
This office is responsible for:
- Voting on state laws and the state budget
- Representing their district in the statehouse
- Serving on committees that shape bills before final votes
- Helping district residents deal with state agencies
Affected Areas: Environment and Public Health, Reduce Wealth Gap, Anti-Corruption, Government Efficiency, Healthcare Affordability, Government Spending Reduction, Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Social Programs and Welfare, Public Education Quality, Gun Control, Women's Reproductive Rights, Election Integrity, Personal Income Tax Reduction, Data Privacy, Civil Rights, Corporate Accountability, Public Infrastructure
Candidates
Kim D. Harless
Democratic · declared
Kim D. Harless is a Vancouver City Council member serving in Seat 1. First elected to the council in 2021 and reelected in 2025, she works as director of community engagement and policy at the Native American Youth and Family Center and previously held environmental-stewardship roles with PaintCare and Clark County. She earned a bachelor's degree in environmental science from Washington State University Vancouver and an associate degree from Clark College.
Records: Anti-Corruption 1 for, Corporate Accountability 1 for, Election Integrity 1 for, Government Efficiency 1 for, Public Infrastructure 1 for
Mike Pond
Democratic · declared
Mike Pond is a lifelong Southwest Washington resident and an organizer with SEIU 775, where he works with home-care workers on wages, workplace safety, and job dignity. He previously served on Vancouver's 2024 Charter Review Committee, which reviewed the city charter and made recommendations to the City Council.
Sarah Mittelman
Republican · declared
Sarah Mittelman is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with more than 20 years of nursing experience. She spent 16 years in OHSU's emergency room and psychiatric unit, later served as a charge nurse at the Unity Center for Behavioral Health, and helped lead the successful effort to unionize Unity nurses.
Election sources
Source: sos.wa.gov