King County Council appoints Vandana Slatter to Washington state Senate seat for 48th District

The Metropolitan King County Council on Tuesday appointed state Representative Vandana Slatter to fill the vacant Senate seat for the 48th Legislative District, voting to insert her name into Proposed Motion 2025-008 and passing the motion by recorded vote.

Council members voted to amend the motion to include Slatter’s name and then approved the amended motion by a 9-0 vote. Judge Robertson administered the oath of office immediately after the council’s action.

The appointment followed a large public hearing and candidate interview process that drew scores of residents and organized endorsements. Dozens of people testified in person and online during the hearing, and several endorsers described Slatter’s background as a health-care professional, immigrant, and legislator who has focused on higher education, workforce training and public health.

Slatter told the council she would be “ready to hit the ground running” in the Senate and described her background as a hospital pharmacist and chair of the House Higher Education and Workforce Committee. She said her perspective as a health-care scientist would add to the Senate’s expertise, and she pledged to partner with King County on pressing priorities including public health funding and housing.

Council members noted the range of experience among the Senate candidates, but several cited the 48th District’s internal selection process. Councilmember Claudia Balducci, who represents most of the 48th, said the district’s precinct committee officers had expressed a clear preference for Slatter and moved the amendment to insert her name.

After the vote, Judge Robertson administered the oath: “I, Vandana Slatter, do solemnly swear that I will uphold the Constitution and laws of the United States of America and the Constitution and laws of the state of Washington … and that I will faithfully perform the duties of state senator for the 48th Legislative District to the best of my ability.” Slatter then took her seat as senator for the 48th district.

The council’s appointment process included candidate interviews in chambers and an executive session to evaluate qualifications under state law. The council’s action will be transmitted to the governor’s office as part of the formal appointment process.

Votes at a glance: Proposed Motion 2025-008 (appointment to state senate, 48th LD) — amendment to insert name Vandana Slatter adopted; final passage 9 ayes, 0 nays.

The council moved immediately to fill the resulting 48th House vacancy through a separate process handled later in the meeting.