Everett voters will choose between a veteran state lawmaker and a first-time candidate for the 38th Legislative District Senate seat on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

State Sen. June Robinson, a 67-year-old Democrat from Everett, faces Brad Bender, a 57-year-old Republican from Marysville.

The district covers most of Everett, Marysville and the Tulalip Reservation, as first reported by the Everett Herald.

Robinson chairs the Senate Ways and Means Committee, which oversees the state's operating and capital budgets. She has served in the Legislature since 2013, first in the state House of Representatives, and was appointed to the Senate in May 2020.

Before entering politics, she held leadership roles at the Community Health Center of Snohomish County and the Housing Consortium of Everett and Snohomish County, according to her campaign website.

She holds a master's degree in public health from the University of Michigan.

Bender works as an electrician. He has never held elected office.

The two were the only candidates to file for the seat. In the August primary, Robinson took 66.2% of the vote to Bender's 33.6%, the Herald reported.

Budget and taxes

The candidates offer sharply different views on state spending.

Robinson told the Herald that balancing the 2027–28 biennium budget will be difficult. She said the state would first look at cutting discretionary programs.

"We've raised revenue the last two years, so I don't see us doing any significant new revenue again this year," Robinson said.

Bender's campaign platform calls the state's spending growth the root of Washington's affordability crisis.

He said he would stop new tax hikes and lower existing business and occupation taxes, arguing that high taxes are driving businesses out of the state.

Housing and homelessness

Both candidates support making it easier to build housing. Robinson said the Legislature has already eased local zoning changes. She said the state approved rent stabilization in 2025, capping annual increases at 10%. She also said she would push to curb extra fees landlords charge tenants for things like pets, lawn care and garbage.

Bender said he would streamline the permit process for builders and allow denser construction.

The two diverge on homelessness. Robinson said she has supported capital funding for providers like the Everett Gospel Mission to expand shelter capacity. She said the state should maintain affordable housing funding even in a tight budget year.

Bender's campaign website argues that people with mental health challenges or drug addiction should complete mandatory treatment before receiving housing support. He told the Herald that homelessness is "more of a drug issue than there is a homeless issue."

Education and public safety

Robinson said the state has made progress on school funding since the 2012 McCleary decision, a State Supreme Court ruling that required Washington to increase funding to school districts.

She said she wants to address student attendance and behavioral health access in schools.

Bender's platform calls student outcomes a crisis, citing state data showing 50% of students do not meet grade-level standards in English language arts. He told the Herald he would look into how to improve outcomes if elected.

On public safety, Robinson cited the state's move to let cities and counties adopt a 0.1% public safety sales tax and the construction of regional police training academies. Bender said he would invest more in recruiting officers.

Endorsements and fundraising

Robinson has endorsements from the Snohomish County Democrats, the Washington State Labor Council and Snohomish County Indivisible. As of Oct. 21, she had received $242,138 in campaign contributions, the Herald reported, citing state public disclosure records.

Bender has endorsements from the Snohomish County Republican Party and the 38th Legislative District Republicans. He had received $2,062 in contributions as of the same date, the Herald reported.

The four-year Senate seat pays $72,494 per year. Ballots are due by Nov. 3.