OLYMPIA — State Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, D-Seattle, is staying in the race for state commissioner of public lands while she undergoes treatment for ovarian cancer, she said Saturday.
Saldaña, 46, was diagnosed Oct. 27 and had a radical hysterectomy that same day. She began chemo Nov. 29.
In a phone interview, Saldaña, who has represented the 37th legislative district, composed largely of South Seattle, since 2016, said she was feeling "really strong and a little fatigued."
She participated remotely as lawmakers gathered in Olympia this past week for a set of committee meetings ahead of the 2024 legislative session, which begins Jan. 8.
She said she plans to be in person during the session and wear a mask, and her office will probably go back to COVID-style protocols, asking visitors to wear masks and holding some meetings remotely.
"My office will be available," Saldaña said. "I feel like we have a strong team to make sure that the 37th (district) constituents and the people that I'm working with actively on policy will have the support and leadership they need from me."
Saldaña is one of seven candidates running to replace Hilary Franz, a Democrat, for the state's commissioner of public lands.
Franz had initially thrown her hat in the ring for governor, but is now running for the U.S. House after Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, who represents the 6th Congressional district, announced he would not seek reelection.
"Our campaign is strong," Saldaña said. "And I think that this only brings more resolve and focus to our campaign, about what it's about, and I'm hopeful that's resonant to people."
On Sunday afternoon, Saldaña told a gathering of supporters about her diagnosis, and that she planned to stay in the race.
While the diagnosis adds "complications," she said, she felt she was in a strong position. In total, she will do six sessions of chemotherapy, one every 21 days. Her next is in late December.
"It really does fortify for me that I will prioritize my health and listen to my body and listen to my doctors," Saldaña said.
Saldaña's Senate seat is not up for reelection until 2026. If she does not win the lands commissioner race, she plans to finish her term in the Senate. Her opponents include Jaime Herrera Beutler, the Republican former Congresswoman, Democratic state Sen. Kevin Van De Wege, and Dave Upthegrove, a Democrat and chair of the Metropolitan King County Council.
Saldaña said she was coming forward with her diagnosis because she didn't want people to "come to their own conclusions."
"I want to be able to share my narrative and my perspective and hope that by being honest and truthful about what is going on, it helps other people," she said.
