Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines is the new senator for the 33rd Legislative District, moving from her position for the past 15 years as a state representative.
Orwall replaces Karen Keiser, of Des Moines, who has retired after 29 years in the Legislature, first as a representative and then as a senator. Democrat Edwin Obras, of SeaTac, will replace Orwall in the House.
Orwall and Obras each were unanimously selected by the King County Council on Dec. 10 to fill the vacant seats. King County Democrats selected a list of three names for each position for the council to choose from.
“It’s an honor to continue serving my community in this new capacity,” Orwall said after she was sworn into office. “I’m incredibly humbled to earn the trust of my community and will continue to do everything I can to improve the lives of all people living in our district and throughout our state.”
The 105-day 2025 legislative session begins Jan. 13 in Olympia.
Orwall’s first year in the House was in 2009. She has become a leading voice on a variety of issues, including suicide prevention and her work to implement the national 988 system in Washington.
Orwall has worked on and sponsored anti-trafficking laws, rape kit reform, consumer protections like the Foreclosure Fairness Act and language access. She has also secured funding and championed legislation to improve and address Sea-Tac Airport, such as air quality, help for nearby ports, noise mitigation and siting of a new airport.
The 33rd Legislative District includes parts of Kent, Tukwila and Renton, east Burien, and the cities of Normandy Park, SeaTac and Des Moines.
Since 2021, Orwall has served as speaker pro tempore, an important administrative role that runs the House chamber during floor sessions.
She has over 20 years of experience in public mental health and a master’s in social work from the University of Washington.
Orwall was on top of the list of three names recommended to the county council by King County Democrats. The other two nominees were 33rd District State Rep. Mia Gregerson, D-SeaTac and Melissa Chaudhry, who lost in 2024 to Democratic incumbent Adam Smith for the 9th District U.S. representative seat.
Keiser, 77, announced in March that she would be retiring at the end of the year although her term doesn’t end until Jan. 11, 2027. Voters reelected Keiser in 2022 to a four-year term.
Obras, deputy division director with the city of Seattle’s Human Services Department and board president since 2019 of the Filipino Community of Seattle, was second on the nominee list. Sam Mendez, vice chair of the 33rd District Democrats, was the first nominee and Krystal Marx, who served on the Burien City Council from 2018 to 2021, was the third nominee.
The council interviewed each candidate and met in executive session before returning to its regular meeting and announcing the choices of Orwall and Obras.
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