Through the Static

By Gray Trammel

Hannah Sabio-Howell, who is running to represent Washington’s 43rd Legislative District in the Washington State Senate, said her campaign is focused on lowering housing costs, expanding universal child care, and requiring ultra-wealthy corporations to contribute more to the state’s social safety net. Sabio-Howell, who is challenging Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen in the August primary, told Through The Static (TtS) she decided to run because she believes Washington “could be the best place in the country to build our lives,” but that the state’s affordability crisis has made that increasingly difficult for working families.

“I jumped into this fight because I’m excited about bringing both my legislative experience and my organizing background, and my lived experience as a renter, a queer woman of color, the daughter of immigrants, the daughter of educators, to the fight for our affordable future,” Sabio-Howell said.

Before launching her campaign, Sabio-Howell worked as a House legislative aide and later as a communications specialist for the Senate Democratic Caucus, and on legislation, including the state’s capital gains tax and postpartum Medicaid expansion, while supporting the Members of Color Caucus and the LGBTQ Caucus. She later became communications director for Working Washington, where she organized alongside workers on labor issues.

“My top three [priorities] are reduce rent by building more housing, win universal child care to help working families, and tax ultra-wealthy corporations so that they pay into the social safety net that they benefit from,” Sabio-Howell said.

Sabio-Howell also said she supports banning foreign-influenced corporate spending in Washington elections.

“Building a state government that is accountable to and transparent for everyday people is essential to me, because I think that’s how we combat the distrust and the disenchantment that people are feeling in government,” she brought up.

She also believes that public safety includes protecting immigrant and Transgender communities, adding that the legislature can do more to strengthen protections for both groups.

“I believe in fighting for people’s ability to find safety and refuge in the communities they want to live in,” Sabio-Howell said.

Sabio-Howell said Washington lawmakers have fallen behind in regulating artificial intelligence and large technology companies. She supports requiring data centers to disclose their utility demand, better matching energy use with clean energy production, strengthening noise mitigation standards, and reevaluating tax incentives for the industry.

Sabio-Howell said her organizing experience has shaped how she would serve in the state Senate.

“I plan on being an organizer,” she said. “What always comes first is asking someone what they want, what they want to see change, what frustrations they have and what hopes they have.”

Sabio-Howell said she respects Pedersen’s years of service, but she believes that it is now time for new leadership in the district.

“It’s not to say he hasn’t done good work. He has. He’s someone I’d be honored to take the baton from. But after 20 years, I think it’s time for him to pass the baton,” Sabio-Howell said.”We could be the best place in the country to build our lives if we could afford it.”

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