GIG HARBOR, WA — Tedd Wetherbee, a Gig Harbor entrepreneur and small business owner, has announced his candidacy as a Democrat for the Washington State House of Representatives in the 26th Legislative District. Announcing his campaign on social media, Wetherbee said the district needs practical leadership that “puts people ahead of politics” and that he understands the challenges facing local businesses and working families.
Wetherbee brings a global resume to a state legislative race. Raised in a large family with an immigrant mother from Nicaragua, he launched his first businesses while attending Florida State University. In his early twenties he worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, traveling internationally and gaining firsthand experience with complex humanitarian challenges. He later spent a decade in Lagos, Nigeria, where he led infrastructure and energy projects including solar-powered lighting systems for underserved communities and built businesses focused on economic development and sustainability.
After returning to Washington State, Wetherbee built multiple businesses and today employs members of the local community. His campaign platform centers on lowering the cost of living, expanding affordable housing, supporting small businesses and local job creation, protecting reproductive freedom and human rights, and investing in community safety alongside mental health and education services. He has said his years as a business owner give him firsthand understanding of the regulatory and financial pressures entrepreneurs face.
The 26th District, spanning parts of Pierce and Kitsap counties from the Tacoma Narrows to the Manette Bridge in Bremerton, is one of Washington’s only true swing districts. It is currently represented by Democratic Sen. Deb Krishnadasan and two House members from opposite parties — Democratic Rep. Adison Richards and Republican Rep. Michelle Valdez. Valdez, a six-term incumbent, announced she will not seek reelection, opening the Position 2 seat. Other candidates who have already registered for the race include Republicans Katy Cornell and David Olson and Democrats Renee Hernandez Greenfield and Rafe Sher.
Ray Shjerven, chair of the 26th Legislative District Democrats, called it “a true purple district” where the winner will be determined by turnout. Official candidate filing week opens May 4, with a deadline of May 8. The primary is set for August 4, 2026, and the general election follows on November 3.