In a tight race between Democrats, state Sen. Saldaña makes bid for Public Lands Commissioner
Another candidate has entered the 2024 race for the Commissioner of Public Lands: Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, D-Seattle, announced her run Wednesday at Seward Park in Seattle.
“The people of Washington deserve a Public Lands Commissioner with a new approach of co-governance, deep relationship building, and mutual accountability,” Saldaña said to a group of supporters. “That is the vision sorely missing from our state leadership. That’s what I intend to bring as the next Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands. That’s why I’m running.”
Saldaña, who is the vice chair of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee, was first appointed by the King County Council to the Washington Senate in 2016, after Pramila Jayapal was elected to Congress.
Saldaña’s campaign website notes that she was born in Washington to her father, a machinist and Mexican immigrant, and her mother, a social worker from the Midwest. Her family grew up on a Superfund site and her father was also exposed to toxic chemicals at his job, resulting in him retiring early.
“She learned the value of conservation through being careful with our resources because the family didn’t have all that much,” the website says.
The Senator’s announcement came just days after Patrick DePoe announced his bid for the already-crowded race between Democrats. Hilary Franz, the current Commissioner of Public Lands who is running for governor, already has endorsed DePoe.
Five Democrats have thrown their hats in the ring, but only one Republican has so far entered the race, according to the Public Disclosure Commission.
Democratic state Sen. Kevin Van De Wege from Sequim so far leads the other candidates in fundraising, with more than $109,000 in donations.
Former state Sen. Mona Das is also in the running after she chose not to run for re-election to her seat in 2022. So far her campaign has raised nearly $50,000.
DePoe, Saldaña, and candidate Dave Upthegrove have not raised any money as of the latest reporting.
Sue Peterson, the lone Republican candidate, has raised $1,600.
