Senator Emily Alvarado

Political Party: Democratic

District: 34th Legislative District

Emily Alvarado is an affordable housing advocate and attorney serving as a member of the Washington State Senate since January 2025. She is a Seattle Public Schools mother of two who lives in West Seattle with her husband and rescue dog. She is the daughter of two public school educators and grew up in a community of teachers, activists, and artists, which shaped her commitment to public service and social justice.

Education

Alvarado earned her law degree from the University of Washington School of Law.

Political Experience

Alvarado was elected to the Washington House of Representatives in November 2022, representing the same 34th Legislative District, and served until her appointment to the State Senate in January 2025.

In the Senate, she serves as vice chair of the Housing Committee and as a member of the Labor & Commerce and Transportation committees. During her House tenure, she led on issues including housing access and affordability, economic opportunity, high-quality public education and child care, reproductive justice, and breaking the cycle of poverty.

Professional Background

Before entering the Legislature, Alvarado held several significant positions in housing and social advocacy:

• Director of the City of Seattle's Office of Housing, where she oversaw citywide housing resources including the Seattle Housing Levy and worked on displacement prevention, climate resilience, supportive housing for homeless individuals, and renter protection
• Vice president of Enterprise Community Partners, a national affordable housing nonprofit
• Policy director of the Housing Development Consortium of Seattle–King County
• Advocacy project coordinator for the Housing Consortium of Everett & Snohomish County
• Public affairs field organizer for Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon
• Community organizer