Skip to main content
The Full Record
Menu
Portrait of Tarra SimmonsPhoto: leg.wa.gov

WA · Officeholder

Tarra Simmons

DState Representative · District 23

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Washington House District 23

Biography

Tarra Simmons is a Democratic member of the Washington House of Representatives, representing District 23-Position 1 since January 11, 2021, and is on the ballot for re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2] She is a civil rights attorney and a former registered nurse.[3]

Simmons graduated from Central Kitsap High School in 1994, then earned an associate degree from Olympic College, a bachelor's degree from Pacific Lutheran University and a law degree from the Seattle University School of Law.[1] Her career experience includes working as executive director of the Civil Survival Project, as a Skadden Fellow with the Public Defender Association and as a legal intern with Columbia Legal Services.[1]

In a 2026 Ballotpedia survey, Simmons said she has personally experienced poverty, addiction and incarceration, and that she led an expansion of Washington's charity care law and helped restore voting rights to tens of thousands of Washingtonians.[3] She listed affordability, health care, behavioral health, housing, workers' rights and criminal justice reform as her areas of focus.[3] During the 2023-2024 session she was assigned to the Appropriations, Health Care and Wellness, and House Rules committees.[1]

  1. 1.Tarra Simmons - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia Reference
  2. 2.Washington House of Representatives elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia Reference
  3. 3.Tarra Simmons, Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey (2026) · Ballotpedia Candidate's own words

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.

Washington House District 23

Tarra Simmons is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Washington House District 23 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.

Ballotpedia ↗

Other candidates for this seat

Daria IlgenCandidateDWashington House District 23WashingtonPortrait of Greg NanceGreg NanceState Representative · District 23DAlso on the 2026 ballot: Washington House District 23WashingtonLance ByrdCandidateRWashington House District 23Washington

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 12 of 537 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (6), Climate & energy (3), Rights & public safety (2)

  • LEOFF 1 restatement

    What it does: Concerning termination and restatement of plan 1 of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system.

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 50–9, Republicans 0–37

    Mar 12, 2026Official record ↗

  • LEOFF 1 restatement

    What it does: Concerning termination and restatement of plan 1 of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system.

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 4–54, Republicans 34–1

    Feb 13, 2026Official record ↗

  • LEOFF 1 restatement

    What it does: Concerning termination and restatement of plan 1 of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system.

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 55–3, Republicans 0–36

    Feb 13, 2026Official record ↗

  • Domestic viol. co-responders

    What it does: Concerning domestic violence co-responder programs.

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 51–8, Republicans 19–20

    Apr 26, 2025Official record ↗

  • Domestic viol. co-responders

    What it does: Concerning domestic violence co-responder programs.

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 49–8, Republicans 18–21

    Apr 21, 2025Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.

HB 1526 · WA HOUSE

Snack bar liquor licenses

YesVOTED

Motion: Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Modifying the snack bar liquor license.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 87–9·Substantive·Mar 12, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 1701 · WA HOUSE

Liquor licensee premises

YesVOTED

Motion: Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Authorizing multiple liquor licensees to have licensed premises within a facility owned and leased out by another liquor licensee or person.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 89–7·Substantive·Mar 12, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 1795 · WA HOUSE

Student restraint, isolation

YesVOTED

Motion: Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Addressing restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 58–37·Substantive·Mar 12, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 1941 · WA HOUSE

Agricultural coops/cannabis

YesVOTED

Motion: Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Authorizing agricultural cooperatives for cannabis producers.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 69–26·Substantive·Mar 12, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 2034 · WA HOUSE

LEOFF 1 restatement

NoVOTED

Motion: Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Concerning termination and restatement of plan 1 of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 50–46·Substantive·Mar 12, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 2215 · WA HOUSE

Fuels/climate commitment act

YesVOTED

Motion: Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Concerning climate commitment act compliance obligations for fuels supplied or otherwise sold into Washington.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 57–38·Substantive·Mar 12, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 5998 · WA HOUSE

Operating budget, supp.

YesVOTED

Motion: Final Passage as Recommended by the Conference Committee

Making 2025-2027 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 54–43·Substantive·Mar 12, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 6005 · WA HOUSE

Transportation budget, supp.

YesVOTED

Motion: Final Passage as Recommended by the Conference Committee

Making supplemental transportation appropriations for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 69–26·Substantive·Mar 12, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 6231 · WA HOUSE

Data center equipment/taxes

NoVOTED

Motion: 2663 Orcutt Pg 2 Ln 25

Removing a tax exemption for the replacement of equipment for data centers.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Failed 47–50·Substantive·Mar 12, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 6231 · WA HOUSE

Data center equipment/taxes

YesVOTED

Motion: 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Removing a tax exemption for the replacement of equipment for data centers.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 51–46·Substantive·Mar 12, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 857 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.