Biography

Sen. Sharon Shewmake was sworn into office on Dec. 9, 2022 and is the first Democrat to represent the 42nd District in two decades. She serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and on the Senate Housing Committee and the Senate Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks Committee.

Shewmake is focused on helping families with affordability of housing and energy, creating jobs and building infrastructure, and ensuring everyone can live in safe communities. Shewmake is a professor of environmental economics, urban economics and energy policy at Western Washington University in Bellingham, as well as a children’s book author, spouse, and mother of two young boys.