Washington's 42nd legislative district

Washington's 42nd legislative district is one of forty-nine districts in Washington state for representation in the state legislature.

Map of Washington's 42nd legislative district

The current state senator is Sharon Shewmake, who defeated Simon Sefzik who was appointed to the position by the Whatcom County Council. At a ceremony in Bellingham, Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham) was sworn into office by Judge Cecily Hazelrigg with family, friends, and supporters looking on.

Shewmake replaces Republican Sen. Simon Sefzik in the Senate, who was appointed to replace Sen. Doug Ericksen after Ericksen’s death in late 2021. Shewmake defeated Sefzik in the 2022 election, and was sworn in to fulfill the final weeks of what would have been Ericksen’s term, followed by a full four-year term starting in 2023. Shewmake previously served in the state House of Representatives.

In the Senate, Shewmake is slated to serve as Vice Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, helping to set statewide transportation policy and budgets, as well as sit on the Senate Housing Committee and the Senate Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks Committee. The Senate is scheduled to vote to confirm all committee positions on Jan. 9, the first day of the 2023 legislative session.

“I’m honored by the trust the voters placed in me,” Shewmake said. “On the campaign trail this year, I had the opportunity to speak firsthand with thousands of our neighbors here in Whatcom County and to hear about the issues and concerns that folks have, so I know we have a lot of important work to do.”

Shewmake plans to focus on issues including housing affordability, flood response and recovery, and public safety, among other issues.

“I’m excited to dig in with my new colleagues here in the Senate,” Shewmake said. “From helping families with affordability of housing and energy, to creating jobs and building our infrastructure, to ensuring we can all live in safe communities, there’s a lot to be done. I will represent each and every one of my constituents with integrity, honesty and a commitment to solving problems with my colleagues — regardless of their party affiliation.”

Outside of her legislative service, Shewmake is a professor of environmental economics, urban economics and energy policy at Western Washington University in Bellingham, as well as a children’s book author, spouse, and mother of two young boys.

The district's state representatives are Alicia Rule (D; position 1), and Joe Timmons (D; position 2).

List of Senators representing the district

Senator	Party	Term
District established January 1, 1903.
John Earles	Democratic	1903 – 1907
Robert L. Kline	Republican	1907 – 1911
Henry M. White	Democratic	1911 – 1915
Edward J. Cleary (Bellingham)	Republican	1915 – 1935
S. C. Roland	Democratic	1935 – 1939
Thomas Voyce	Democratic	1939 – 1943
Harry A. Binzer	Republican	1943 – 1944 (Resigned to enter military service)
Ralph C. Tenney	Republican	February 15, 1944 – 1945 (Resigned)
Thomas R. Waters	Democratic	1945 – 1947 (Elected to serve unexpired term)
Harry A. Binzer	Republican	1947 – 1951
Vaughan Brown	Democratic	1951 – 1955
Homer O. Nunamaker (Bellingham)	Democratic	January 10, 1955 – January 14, 1963
R. Frank Atwood	Republican	1963 – 1975
H. A. "Barney" Goltz	Democratic	1975 – 1987
Ann Anderson (Acme)	Republican	1987 – September 15, 1998 (Resigned due to appointment to Tax Appeals Board)
Joe Elenbaas	Republican	November 10, 1998 – November 23, 1998 (Appointed)
Georgia Gardner	Democratic	November 23, 1998 – January 2003
Dale Brandland (Bellingham)	Republican	January 13, 2003 – January 10, 2011
Doug Ericksen (Ferndale)	Republican	January 13, 2011 – December 17, 2021 (Died in office)
Simon Sefzik (Ferndale)	Republican	January 11, 2022 – January 9, 2023 (Appointed)
Sharon Shewmake (Bellingham)	Democratic	January 9, 2023 – present

List of Representatives representing the district

G. E. DeSteiguer ........................................R

Edmond S. Meany......................................R

1893 Edmond S. Meany......................................R

L. H. Wheeler.............................................R

1895 Solon T. Williams ......................................R

R. B. Albertson ..........................................R

1897 Hans Hansen ......................................... Pop.

Solon T. Williams .......................Silver Rep.

1899 Charles S. Gleason .....................................R

L. W. Carpenter..........................................R

1901 R. B. Albertson (Speaker) .............................R

Frederick Burch .........................................R

1903 Edgar C. Raine ...........................................R

Dr. C. S. Emery..........................................R

1905 David McVay.............................................R

Gerhardt Ericksen ......................................R

1907 W. F. Freudenberg .....................................R

W. C. McMaster.........................................R

1909 W. C. McMaster.........................................R

Walter T. Christensen ................................R

1911 Walter T. Christensen................................ R

Edgar J. Wright.......................................... R

1913 Walter T. Christensen.......................... Prog.

Thomas F. Murphine ........................... Prog.

1915 Thomas F. Murphine ........................... Prog.

W. D. Lane .......................................... Prog.

1917 Frank E. Boyle........................................... R

Walter T. Christensen................................ R

1919 George N. Hodgdon................................... D

H. C. Bohlke.............................................. D

1921 Thomas F. Murphine ................................. R

George T. Ericksen.................................... R

1923 William Phelps Totten............................... R

Thomas F. Murphine ................................. R

1925 Elmer Ellsworth Shields ............................ R

William Phelps Totten............................... R

1927 Elmer Ellsworth Shields ............................ R

E. L. Howard ............................................. R

1929 William Phelps Totten............................... R

M. B. Mitchell ........................................... R

1931 M. B. Mitchell............................................R

E. L. Howard..............................................R

1933 Tim Healy ..................................................R

Charles I. Roth ...........................................R

1935 James D. McDonald...................................D

Thomas Voyce ...........................................D

1937 James D. McDonald...................................D

Thomas Voyce ...........................................D

1939 James D. McDonald...................................D

B. F. Reno, Jr. ............................................R

1941 B. F. Reno, Jr. ............................................R

Charles F. Trunkey.....................................R

1943 Homer O. Nunamaker ................................D

Percy Willoughby ......................................D

1945 Homer O. Nunamaker ................................D

Percy Willoughby ......................................D

1947 Leo C. Goodman........................................R

Leslie J. Peterson .......................................R

1949 Vaughan Brown .........................................D

Homer O. Nunamaker ................................D

1951 Marshall Forrest .........................................D

Homer O. Nunamaker ................................D

1953 Hal G. Arnason, Jr......................................R

Malcolm McBeath......................................R

1955 Hal G. Arnason, Jr......................................R

Malcolm McBeath......................................R

1957 George G. Dowd ........................................D

Richard J. “Dick” Kink ..............................D

1959 A. E. Edwards ............................................D

Richard J. “Dick” Kink ..............................D

1961 A. E. Edwards ............................................D

Richard J. “Dick” Kink ..............................D

1963 Richard J. “Dick” Kink ..............................D

Charles E. Lind ..........................................R

1965 Richard J. “Dick” Kink ..............................D

W. O. E. Radcliffe......................................D

1967 Dr. Caswell J. Farr .....................................R

Richard J. “Dick” Kink ..............................D

Fred A. Veroske .........................................R

1969 Dr. Caswell J. Farr .....................................R

Richard J. “Dick” Kink ..............................D

Fred A. Veroske .........................................R

1971 Dr. Caswell J. Farr .....................................R

Donald G. Hansey......................................R

Dan Van Dyk .............................................D

1973 H. A. “Barney” Goltz.................................D

Dan Van Dyk .............................................D

1975 Mary Kay Becker.......................................D

Art Moreau.................................................D

1977 Mary Kay Becker.......................................D

Art Moreau.................................................D

1979 Mary Kay Becker.......................................D

Roger Van Dyken.......................................R

1981 Mary Kay Becker ...................................... D

Roger Van Dyken...................................... R

1983 Dennis Braddock ....................................... D

Roger Van Dyken...................................... R

1985 Dennis Braddock ....................................... D

Pete Kremen .............................................. D

1987 Dennis Braddock ....................................... D

Pete Kremen .............................................. D

1989 Dennis Braddock ....................................... D

Pete Kremen .............................................. D

1991 Dennis Braddock ....................................... D

Pete Kremen .............................................. D

1993 Kelli Linville ............................................. D

Pete Kremen .............................................. D

1995 Gene Goldsmith......................................... R

Pete Kremen (Resigned December 9, 1995; Elected Whatcom County Executive).................. D

Kelli Linville (Appointed December 12, 1995 to serve unexpired term)...........................................D

1997 Georgia Anne Gardner .............................. D