Edmonds City Councilmember Will Chen on Friday, January 16, formally announced his campaign for State Representative in Washington’s 32nd Legislative District, entering the race with a focus on affordability, opportunity, public safety, and practical, fiscally responsible leadership at a time when families and small businesses across the district are feeling increasingly squeezed.
Spanning communities in both Snohomish and King counties, the 32nd Legislative District is facing rising housing and healthcare costs, mounting pressure on small businesses, and growing concern about whether working families and seniors can continue to afford to live in the communities they call home. Chen’s campaign is centered on addressing these challenges with data-driven solutions and accountable governance.
At the same time, Chen believes state leadership matters more than ever as immigrant families and communities face renewed attacks and uncertainty driven by rhetoric and policies coming from the Trump administration. Chen has been clear that targeting immigrants does real harm—creating fear, destabilizing families, and weakening local economies. As a state legislator, he will stand up for immigrant communities, defend opportunity, and ensure Washington continues to be a place where people who work hard and contribute are treated with dignity and respect, even when federal leadership falls short.
Chen enters the race with early support from a broad coalition of both current and former elected leaders across the region, reflecting confidence in his ability to represent the full geographic and economic diversity of the district. Early endorsers include Snohomish County Councilmember and former State Representative Jared Mead; Lynnwood Mayor George Hurst; Edmonds City Councilmembers Erika Barnett and Vivian Olson; Student Representative to Edmonds City Council Vivian Liao; Lynnwood City Councilmember David Parshall; Mukilteo City Councilmembers Mike Dixon and Jason Moon; Port of Edmonds Commissioners Selena Killin and Jay Grant; SeaTac City Councilmember Peter Kwon; former U.S. Congressman Brian Baird; former Seattle City Councilmember Tanya Woo; and former Edmonds City Councilmembers Diane Buckshnis, Dave Teitzel and Mauri Moor Shuler among others.
“Will understands how policy decisions show up in people’s daily lives—on family budgets, small business balance sheets, and in the ability of local governments to deliver services,” said Mead. “His financial expertise and practical approach make him well suited to represent a district as diverse as the 32nd.”
Chen’s campaign is grounded in a clear understanding of the economic squeeze facing communities across both counties. Families are struggling with rising housing, healthcare, and childcare costs; seniors on fixed incomes are being pushed to the edge; and small businesses are facing increasing pressure from higher operating costs and uncertainty. As a CPA and a small business owner, Chen brings a disciplined, analytical approach to these challenges—focused on fixing what drives costs, improving accountability, and ensuring policies are fiscally sound and deliver real results.
“Families and small businesses across our district are under real pressure,” Chen said. “Too often, policies are debated without a clear understanding of how they impact real people. I’m running to bring practical, financially responsible leadership that focuses on solutions—not slogans.”
First elected to the Edmonds City Council in 2021, Chen has served as Finance Committee Chair, Council President Pro-Tem, and in multiple liaison roles, working on budgets, housing, infrastructure, and policies that cross city and county lines. Prior to his election, he served on the Edmonds Citizens Housing Commission, helping develop recommendations to shape the future of housing options within the city. He also co-founded the Asian Service Center, a South Snohomish County nonprofit focused on connecting underserved communities with information and resources, and previously served as President of the Bing Kung Family Association in Seattle—reflecting a longstanding commitment to advocacy for minority communities.
Chen’s campaign priorities include:
- Affordability – Making Washington work for families, seniors, and small businesses
- Immigration & Opportunity – Defending the American Dream and expanding opportunity
- Public Safety & Community Health – Addressing root causes to create safer communities
- Responsible Governance – Fiscal responsibility, accountability, and environmental stewardship
- Education & Workforce Readiness – Preparing people for opportunity and economic change
“As Democrats, we should be focused on governing well,” Chen added. “That means standing up for opportunity, being honest about costs, supporting workers and small businesses, and making sure our policies are grounded in facts and deliver results people can feel in their daily lives.”
More information about Will Chen’s campaign and priorities is available at www.electwillchen.com. Community members across the district are encouraged to reach out, share their perspectives and connect with Will.
Source: Friends of Will
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
