Debra Lekanoff

Debra E. Lekanoff (born February 26, 1971) is a Democratic member of the Washington Legislature representing the State's 40th House district for position 1. She is a member of the Tlingit tribe and was credited with being the first female tribal member to serve in the Washington House of Representatives.^[2][3] However, Lois Stratton was actually the first female tribal member to serve in the Washington House of Representatives, starting her first term in 1979,^[4][5] making Lekanoff the second female tribal member to serve in this position.

Debra Lekanoff
Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 40th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 14, 2019 Serving with Alex Ramel
Preceded by	Kristine Lytton
Personal details
Born	(1971-02-26) February 26, 1971 (age 53) Yakutat, Alaska, U.S.[1]
Political party	Democratic

Career

Lekanoff won the election on 6 November 2018 from the platform of Democratic Party. She secured sixty-seven percent of the vote while her closest rival Republican Michael Petrish secured thirty-three percent.^[6]

Electoral history

August 2018 State Representative Position 1 Primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Alex Ramel	7,684	19.13
	Democratic	Debra Lekanoff	11,323	28.19
	Republican	Michael Petrish	8,446	21.03
	Republican	Daniel Miller	2,686	6.69
	Democratic	Rud Browne	7,394	18.41
	Democratic	Tom Pasma	2,629	6.55

November 2018 State Representative Position 1 General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Debra Lekanoff	48,153	67.02
	Republican	Michael Petrish	23,692	32.98

References

1. "Resolutions Introduced in 3 States to Designate 2019 as International Year of the Salmon". Alaska Native News. 2019-04-11. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
2. "Representative-Elect Debra Lekanoff receives House committee assignments". The Press Pool. 2018-12-18. Archived from the original on 2019-04-18. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
3. "Lekanoff Sworn-In as First Native American Woman to Serve in House" (Press release). Olympia, Washington. Washington State House Democrats. 2019-01-15. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
4. Epperly, Emma (2020-09-15). "'Kindness, respect and compassion': Longtime state legislator Lois Stratton dies at 93". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
5. "House Class Photos 1981". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
6. "Washington Election Results - Election Results 2018". The New York Times. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.

External links

• Debra Lekanoff at ballotpedia.org