State Representative Position 1
August 4, 2026 · Legislative (House) District 27; 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: Average · 55 out of 100
This district is mid-sized for its type, so each vote carries average weight. About 157,972 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(164,798 ÷ 157,972) ÷ ln(164,798 ÷ 152,644) = 55.22, comparing state house districts in WA (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
Average representation + unknown decisiveness → 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
Carole Sue Braaten
Republican · declared
Carole Sue Braaten is a Fife resident with study in agricultural science, soil science, and critical-areas regulation. A previous candidate for state and local offices, she is seeking Washington House District 27, Position 1.
Records: Anti-Corruption 2 for, Environment and Public Health 2 for, Public Infrastructure 6 for, Public Safety and Crime Control 1 for
Laurie Jinkins
Democratic · Incumbent · declared
Laurie Jinkins is the Washington State Representative for District 27, Position 1 and Speaker of the Washington House. First elected to the House in 2010, she has a background in public health and law, including work for the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, Washington Department of Health, and Attorney General's Office.
Records: Civil Rights 1 for, Environment and Public Health 1 for, Gun Control 1 for, Healthcare Affordability 8 for, Housing Affordability 2 for, Public Safety and Crime Control 4 for, Reduce Wealth Gap 1 for, Social Programs and Welfare 2 for
Election sources
Source: voter.votewa.gov
Source: sos.wa.gov
Source: www2.sos.wa.gov