by Laurel Demkovich, Washington State Standard
December 10, 2024
Democrat Tina Orwall is the latest state representative to make the switch to the Legislature’s other chamber.
Orwall was appointed by the King County Council on Tuesday to be the next senator representing the 33rd Legislative District, which covers communities in south King County, including SeaTac, Des Moines and Kent. Orwall replaces outgoing Sen. Karen Keiser who is retiring after 30 years in the Legislature.
The council also approved Edwin Obras as Orwall’s replacement in the state House of Representatives. Obras is the deputy division director at the City of Seattle’s Human Services Department.
Orwall is the eighth House member to move to the Senate following elections and appointments thus far. Hers is the first of three incoming appointments to replace outgoing Senate Democrats ahead of the January 2025 session.
Both state representatives in the district, Orwall and Mia Gregerson, were in the running for the Senate seat. Melissa Chaudhry, who ran against Congressman Adam Smith in November, was also a finalist.
Orwall has served as a state representative since 2009. During her time, she worked on clearing the rape kit backlog, improving suicide prevention measures, implementing anti-trafficking laws and expanding language access in schools. She also served as the speaker pro tempore.
She has a master’s of social work in administration and spent 20 years in the public mental health system. She also worked for Seattle’s Office of Housing as the state health care home coordinator for King and Pierce counties.
“As a social worker and legislator, I’ve had the privilege of walking beside people during their hardest times and working together to find solutions,” Orwall said. “I’m really proud of the work and connection in my community.”
As Orwall heads to the Senate, Obras will fill her spot in the state House. Obras has worked for Seattle’s Human Services Department for 16 years. Before his role as deputy division director, he was the department’s budget and policy director and contracts manager.
He is also the board president of the Filipino Community of Seattle. He grew up in Beacon Hill in Seattle and attended the University of Washington.
Obras told the council Tuesday that he appreciates the diversity of the 33rd legislative district residents.
“I want to represent them,” he said. “I will wake up every morning thinking about how I can help solve their problems, and I’ve been doing that pretty much all my life.”
Both positions will be on the ballot in a special election next November, and the winner of those elections will serve through 2026.
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