State Sen. Vandana Slatter, D-Bellevue, seen on the House floor during her time as a representative. (Legislative Support Services)
Vandana Slatter moved from the House to the Senate in the state Legislature on Tuesday after the King County Council appointed her to replace Patty Kuderer, who was recently elected as Washington’s next insurance commissioner.
Slatter, a Democrat, was sworn into the Senate shortly after the council selected her for the seat in the 48th Legislative District, which covers communities in Redmond, Bellevue and Kirkland. Her House seatmate, fellow Democrat Amy Walen, also sought the appointment and, after being passed over, vowed to run for the Senate seat when it’s up for election in November.
The council also approved Osman Salahuddin as Slatter’s replacement in the state House of Representatives. Salahuddin is currently a Redmond City Council member.
Slatter has served in the House since 2017. Prior to being elected to the Legislature, she was on the Bellevue City Council for a year. She worked as a clinical scientist in biotech and pharmaceutical companies for over 20 years before holding elected office. She is also a licensed pharmacist
“I’m ready to hit the ground running as a health care scientist who can solve problems, as a mom who understands the stakes, and as a seasoned legislator who has fought for policies that put people and working families first,” Slatter said.
Walen said the appointment process “has only strengthened my resolve to bring my leadership and vision to the Senate.”
Kuderer has represented the 48th since 2015. She first served as a representative and in 2017 was appointed by the King County Council to fill the Senate seat when it became vacant, becoming the first female state senator in her district.
Salahuddin was elected to the Redmond City Council in 2023 and was previously the student body president for the University of Washington.
Neal Black, a Kirkland City Council member, was also considered for the House position, along with Vijay Beniwal, a Redmond resident and chief product officer at CricCenter AI, an app focused on the sport of cricket.
Sen. Yasmin Trudeau, D-Tacoma, testified in support of Salahuddin at the council meeting. He will join Trudeau as the second Muslim in the Legislature.
“I seek to lead with humility and a deep willingness to learn from my community,” Salahuddin said. “While I can’t claim to know all the answers to all the challenges that our state is facing, I want to make sure that I will fight for our residents.”
Both the House and Senate positions will be on the ballot in a special election in November, with the winners serving through 2026.