by Jerry Cornfield, Washington State Standard
February 24, 2026
Republican state Rep. Michelle Valdez of Gig Harbor said Tuesday that she will not seek reelection to the Washington Legislature, saying personal priorities and her legislative district’s evolving political direction led to her decision.
First elected in 2014, Valdez was re-elected five times in the 26th Legislative District, which encompasses parts of Kitsap and Pierce counties and includes Bremerton, Port Orchard, Purdy and Gig Harbor. Valdez changed her last name from Caldier following her recent marriage.
“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve this community,” she said in a statement.
Her announcement comes just months after she failed to unseat Democratic state Sen. Deb Krishnadasan in a closely watched special election cast as a bellwether of the political mood in Washington.
For Valdez, a moderate Republican, it was a bitter loss.
The district is one of the few served by Republican and Democratic lawmakers, and Valdez had repeatedly garnered votes of moderate Democrats and independents. She appealed to them again last year, saying Democrats’ near super majority in the Legislature is the cause of rising living costs in Washington.
But, as much as she tried, she could not distance herself from her party’s standard-bearer, President Donald Trump, whose unpopularity continues to drag down Republican candidates in suburban areas. Opponents spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on mailers and ads tying Valdez to the president.
“I respect the will of the voters,” she said. “At the same time, I believe our state is strongest when there is thoughtful oversight, sustainable budgeting, and a genuine exchange of ideas that ensures policies are carefully considered.”
In her legislative tenure, Valdez made an indelible impression as a voice for foster youth, seniors, crime victims, and working families.
Legally blind, she kept the needs of people with disabilities centered in her policy pursuits.
“I understand how difficult it is for people with disabilities to live whole lives,” she said.
She cited her work to end the pandemic-era moratorium on evictions and to halt surprise billings in health care as two important policy accomplishments. And she spoke proudly of successes in securing money for numerous projects in her community, despite being a member of the minority party.
Her career has not been without controversy.
She left the Republican House caucus in late 2022 and stayed away for the 2023 session because, she has said, of poor treatment by leadership. She returned after the session following a change in the top ranks.
Meanwhile, in a December 2023 report, she was found to have violated the House of Representatives Respectful Workplace policy that bans verbal abuse and bullying. Valdez, who unsuccessfully appealed the findings, has maintained this situation was a byproduct of her earlier clash with leadership.
“Why did they have an issue with me? At the end of the day, you want an elected official willing to stand up to their leadership, and to stand up for the people they represent,” she said Tuesday.
Katy Cornell, a Republican and ally of Valdez, has filed to run for the seat. Renee Hernandez Greenfield, a Democrat, is running as well.
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