Sharon Tomiko Santos

Sharon Tomiko Santos is an American politician currently serving as a member of the Washington House of Representatives for the 37th legislative district. First elected in 1998, she holds the distinction of being the first Japanese-American woman to serve in a state legislature on the U.S. mainland. Throughout her tenure, she has focused on education, finance, and consumer protection. Notably, she sponsored significant legislation in 2019 to reform Washington's wrongful death laws, successfully removing discriminatory requirements that had existed since 1909.