Candidate forum report: 32nd LD Senator race - Salomon - Ryu

Over 100 people attended the candidate forum in Innis Arden on Sunday.
Photo by Jamie Holter, MyMLTNews.com

Volunteers working with the League of Women Voters held an in-person candidate forum on Sunday October 18, 2026 in Innis Arden with all six candidates on the ballot for the 32nd Legislative District.

Jamie Holter with MyMLTNews.com covered the event.

Her complete report on the Senate race, where Rep. Cindy Ryu (D) is challenging incumbent Sen. Jesse Salomon (D) is here: State 32nd District Senate candidates Ryu, Salomon face off at in-person forum

The closing statements are here:

Closing statements from Jesse Salomon and Cindy Ryu

Jesse Salomon
Photo by Claudia Meadows

Jesse Salomon: Politics will affect your life one way or the other. So you should be at the table. That being said, I also think that when we make laws, we should be as open as possible. You should know what we’re doing. That means that all the emails that we send to each other as we develop bills or respond to our constituents are public. They should be public.

There’s a controversy around it because some of my Senate leadership has gone to court to create exemptions so that they’re not public. I introduce a constitutional amendment to say no, this has to be public. I’ve never held my emails, and my colleagues should not either.

The Seattle Times, in their endorsement of me, has noted that my opponent has, dozens of times, withheld emails and this information as Legislative privilege, something that really shouldn’t exist. So there’s a difference there.

On homelessness, I do believe that we need to examine our approach because it’s not working. My opponent takes a somewhat different track in that she sponsored a bill that says that homeless encampments cannot be moved unless you have permanent or ongoing supportive shelter that allows pets, support staff, and friends. Or upon pain of being sued, the city couldn’t have been sued by the homeless folks or their advocates. I just don’t think that we should allow this rampant stuff on the street.

Cindy Ryu
Photo by Claudia Meadows

Cindy Ryu: I have delivered real results for our community, and I’ve always been a fighter for the working class and the most vulnerable, and which is why I am proudly endorsed by labor.

In a time where we are fending off the Trump administration and making sure that we protect vulnerable communities in our state, I am ready to bring leadership and expertise to the state senate to make sure that we have a fighter in Olympia. My goals for the next session include continuing to lead on affordability, particularly affordable housing and reducing costs of living by protecting consumers from unfair business practices, predatory lending, and like I did for reducing catalytic converter thefts, it took two bills over three years, but we got it done.

I would like to prevent copper wire thefts and vandalism of critical infrastructure to keep our utility rates from climbing so fast and having so many interruptions.

And I would absolutely regulate AI deployment and, of course, data centers and absolutely fully fund our schools from early learning to K through 12 plus two, and address the safety and human trafficking issues across Aurora Avenue and elsewhere. And I do know the community, and I know the challenges that we face, and it’s been an honor representing the residents of the 32nd Legislative District. And I’m ready to get to work, and I hope that you will join me.

Read the entire report here