Kelabe TewoldeKelabe Tewolde

Kelabe Tewolde is an educator challenging incumbent Rep. Santos in the 37th Legislative District, Position 1. Tewolde is a Seattle native, raised in a working class union family by his single mother. Guided by his own experiences with housing insecurity, displacement, and medical debt, he is an advocate for affordability and safety nets, and believes in the power of neighbors taking care of one another. Tewolde's campaign priorities focus on early investments in public health, housing, and safety, addressing the root causes of insecurity rather than its aftermath. He advocates for restoring funding for the Education Legacy Trust Account to support K-12 education. He also supports early education investments and expanding pathways to employment, including college degrees and workforce training. Tewolde's family's experience with medical debt has shaped his approach to public health and his platform focuses on reducing corporate influence in the healthcare industry. He believes healthcare is a human right and that residents should not have to worry about affording medical care. He supports establishing the Washington Health Trust Fund and moving toward universal healthcare in the state. Having experienced housing insecurity in Seattle, Tewolde prioritizes affordable housing investments and stronger tenant protections, as well as expanding social housing models in the district. He is also a graduate of the Rainier Scholars program, which he credits with helping reduce youth violence by providing young people with pathways to engagement and opportunity in their communities. He supports not only preventative solutions to public safety, but also infrastructure improvements like well-lit streets and sidewalks. Kelabe Tewolde's campaign is thoughtful and rooted in deep personal ties to the district. He is poised to make bold change in the Legislature, making him our recommendation for voters in the 37th Legislative District.

(Dual Endorsement)