State Rep. Mary Fosse, a Democrat from Everett, is certified for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election for House District 38, Position 2.

Fosse has held the seat since 2023. She says her top priorities include supporting workers and working families, lowering the cost of living, expanding affordable housing, improving access to child care, protecting consumers and building safe, resilient communities, according to her legislative biography.

Candidate information

Office sought: Washington House of Representatives, District 38, Position 2

Party: Democratic

Current role: Deputy Majority Floor Leader, Washington State House of Representatives (2025-present)

Previous legislative role: Assistant Majority Whip, Washington State House of Representatives (2023-2024)

Other roles: Chair, Working Families Caucus, Washington State House of Representatives; Everett City Councilmember (2022-present); Districting Commissioner, City of Everett; Council of Neighborhoods Representative, City of Everett

Background: Fosse previously owned a small carnivorous plant nursery and spent a decade teaching at local libraries, schools and other events, according to her legislative biography. She served as Delta Neighborhood Chair in Everett from 2017 to 2020. She worked as a legislative assistant to then-Rep. Emily Wicks from 2020 to 2022.

Experience and public service

Before joining the Legislature, Fosse's volunteer work secured nearly $5.5 million for an environmental justice cleanup project in Everett's Delta Neighborhood, according to her legislative biography. She describes experiencing poverty and homelessness as a child as shaping her policy focus.

Fosse has received several awards, according to her legislative biography. They include the Snohomish Conservation District's Conservation Leader of the Year (2020) and Snohomish County Democrats' Elected Official of the Year (2022). She also received the same organization's 2025 Legislator of the Year, the Snohomish and Island County Labor Council's Mike Sells Labor Champion Award, and Sheet Metal Workers Local 66's 2025 Legislator of the Year.

Her endorsement list includes labor organizations such as the AFL-CIO, Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council, SEIU Local 775, UFCW Local 21 and Snohomish and Island County Labor Council. Environmental and issue-advocacy endorsements include the Sierra Club's Washington State Chapter, Washington Conservation Action, Alliance for Gun Responsibility Victory Fund and Washington Housing Alliance Action Fund. She is also endorsed by the Washington Education Association PAC, Washington State Nurses Association PAC, National Women's Political Caucus of Washington, Children's Campaign Fund, Washington Federation of State Employees, Snohomish County Democrats and Snohomish County Indivisible, according to BallotReady data and her campaign website.

On the issues

Housing: Fosse says she supports Housing First policies, tenant protections, public and workforce housing, a state public bank with low-income mortgage options, and increased resources for local governments, according to her campaign website. Those resources would cover shelter, hygiene facilities and wraparound services, she says. She says the state needs to partner with local leaders on regional needs and increase housing stock across all levels. She also says she supports better funding for mental health and substance abuse programs, as well as incentivizing the mental health provider workforce pipeline.

Workers and jobs: Fosse says she wants to strengthen workplace safety, workers' rights and safety nets for caregivers, according to her campaign website. She says she was personally lifted out of poverty in part because of a union. She says supporting the skilled labor pipeline, port capacity, light rail expansion and amenities like schools and child care will attract growing industries to Everett and surrounding areas.

Public safety: Fosse says she supports holistic approaches to public safety, including investments in health care and diversifying the public safety workforce, according to her campaign website. She says judicial exit plans and input from people with lived experience, first responders, social workers, mental health experts and housing providers are needed.

Education: Fosse says she supports funding schools, paraeducators and capital improvements in school districts, according to her campaign website. She also says she supports increasing apprenticeship opportunities and trade pathways for youth and those seeking second chances.

Child care: Fosse says she supports expanding child care access and affordability, according to her campaign website.

The Port Gardner Gazette did not identify other candidates certified for this race in the materials reviewed for this profile.